Washington Area Bestsellers

Washington Area Bestsellers

Sunday, November 20, 2005

Paperback
Fiction
1
STATE OF FEAR(Avon, $7.99). By Michael Crichton
Eco-terrorists plot to create "natural disasters" in an effort to further their radical agenda.
3
2
WHITEOUT(Signet, $7.99). By Ken Follett
The debt-ridden son of a pharmaceutical company's founder burgles the lab, with unforeseen consequences.
3
3
THE KITE RUNNER(Riverhead, $14). By Khaled Hosseini
An Afghan immigrant returns to his Taliban-ruled country in the hope of atoning for a childhood betrayal.
58
4
NIGHT FALL(Warner Vision, $7.99). By Nelson Demille
Anti-terrorist expert John Corey is driven to reassess the 1996 crash of TWA Flight 800 off Long Island.
3
5
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA(Vintage, $14.95)
By Arthur Golden.The celebrated geisha, Sayuri, relates her rise to fame and fortune in 1930's imperial Japan.
1
6
WICKED: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE WICKED
WITCH OF THE WEST(Regan, $15). By Gregory Maguire
This riff on the "Oz" tales features a misunderstood witch.
13
7
LONDON BRIDGES(Warner Vision, $7.99)
By James Patterson.Alex Cross's nemesis, the Wolf, aims to extort billions by threatening to annihilate entire cities.
7
8
LIFE EXPECTANCY(Bantam, $7.99). By Dean Koontz
Jimmy Took, buffeted by destiny, musters decency and strength to cope with five days of horror.
3
9
LIGHT ON SNOW(Back Bay, $14.95). By Anita Shreve
The emotional repercussions of a father and daughter's discovery of an abandoned infant in the woods.
8
10
DARK WATCH(Berkley, $16). By Clive Cussler and
Jack DuBrul.Pirates prowling the waters of Southeast Asia threaten the livelihood of powerful shipping magnates.
2
Nonfiction/General
1
A MILLION LITTLE PIECES(Anchor, $14.95)
By James Frey.A former screenwriter and drug dealer chronicles his addiction and recovery.
8
2
THE TIPPING POINT: HOW LITTLE THINGS CAN
MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE(Back Bay, $14.95)
By Malcolm Gladwell.A look at fads and their origins.
46
3
JARHEAD: A MARINE'S CHRONICLE OF THE
GULF WAR AND OTHER BATTLES
(Pocket, $7.99; Scribner, $15). By Anthony Swofford
4
4
WHY DO MEN HAVE NIPPLES?(Three Rivers, $12.95)
By Mark Leyner and Billy Goldberg.Audacious questions to ask your doctor after that third cocktail.
14
5
IN COLD BLOOD(Vintage, $14). By Truman Capote
Its melding of crime reportage and a novel's structure made this account of a 1959 Kansas murder an instant classic.
4
6
BAD CAT: 244 NOT-SO-PRETTY KITTIES AND
CATS GONE BAD(Workman, $9.99). By Jim Edgar
Candid photos of felines acting up and acting out.
31
7
THE DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY(Vintage, $14.95)
By Erik Larson.Serial killer H.H. Holmes preys on Chicago residents amid the bustle of the 1893 World's Fair.
89
8
HIS EXCELLENCY: GEORGE WASHINGTON
(Vintage, $15). By Joseph J. Ellis.A biography of the statesman from British army soldier to U.S. president.
1
9
READING LOLITA IN TEHRAN(Random House, $13.95)
By Azar Nafisi.A professor recalls her clandestine Western literature discussion groups for women.
93
10
GUNS, GERMS, AND STEEL(Norton, $16.95)
By Jared Diamond.The impact of geography and the environment on the course of civilization.
48
Hardcover
Fiction
1
A FEAST FOR CROWS(Spectra, $28)
By George R.R. Martin.An anxious peace settles over the Seven Kingdoms in this fourth book of Martin's epic saga.
1
2
THE CAMEL CLUB(Warner, $26.95). By David Baldacci
A band of zealous conspiracy theorists stumbles across intrigue after witnessing a murder on Roosevelt Island.
3
3
LIGHT FROM HEAVEN(Viking, $26.95). By Jan Karon
Father Tim endeavors to revitalize a long-neglected mountain church in the Mitford Years series' swan song.
1
4
PREDATOR(Putnam, $26.95). By Patricia Cornwell
Forensic examiner Kay Scarpetta, now based in Florida, is stymied by a series of bizarre slayings and thorny clues.
3
5
AT FIRST SIGHT(Warner, $24.95). By Nicholas Sparks
Jeremy Marsh and Lexie Darnell, last seen in Sparks's "True Believer," are coping with the stress of engagement.
4
6
CHRIST THE LORD: OUT OF EGYPT(Knopf, $25.95)
By Anne Rice.The Holy Family's trek back to Nazareth from Egypt, narrated by a 7-year-old Jesus.
2
7
ORDINARY HEROES(FSG, $25). By Scott Turow
A cache of lost letters compels a retired crime reporter to delve into his father's often murky WWII service.
2
8
KNIFE OF DREAMS: BOOK ELEVEN OF THE
WHEEL OF TIME(Tor, $29.95). By Robert Jordan
The penultimate volume of Jordan's fantasy epic.
5
9
TOXIC BACHELORS(Delacorte, $27). By Danielle Steel
Charles, Adam and Gray, confirmed bachelors thriving professionally at mid-life, meet their romantic matches.
3
10
MEMORIES OF MY MELANCHOLY WHORES(Knopf, $20)
By Gabriel Garca Mrquez.This novella's 90-year-old raconteur reflects on a life of trifling pleasure and idleness.
1
Nonfiction/General
1
TEAM OF RIVALS: THE POLITICAL GENIUS OF
ABRAHAM LINCOLN(Simon & Schuster, $35)
By Doris Kearns Goodwin.Presidential finesse.
3
2
OUR ENDANGERED VALUES: AMERICA'S MORAL
CRISIS(Simon & Schuster, $25). By Jimmy Carter
Cautioning against religious fundamentalism's influence.
2
3
THE WORLD IS FLAT: A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE
TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY(FSG, $27.50)
By Thomas L. Friedman.Globalism's colossal impact.
32
4
ARE MEN NECESSARY? WHEN SEXES COLLIDE
(Putnam, $25.95). By Maureen Dowd.A collection of columns on sex, feminism and gender relations.
1
5
HEALTHY AGING: A LIFELONG GUIDE TO YOUR PHYSICAL
AND SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING(Knopf, $27.95)
By Andrew Weil.A new perspective for staying vibrant.
4
6
THE TRUTH: WITH JOKES(Dutton, $25.95)
By Al Franken.The cheeky satirist's follow-up to "Lies" aims to debunk the conservative media spin.
3
7
THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING(Knopf, $23.95)
By Joan Didion.A memoir of grief and mourning; winner of the 2005 National Book Award for nonfiction.
6
8
TALK TO THE HAND:THE UTTER BLOODY RUDENESS OF
THE WORLD TODAY ...(Gotham, $20). By Lynne Truss
Is polite society dead? Are cell phones to blame? Read on.
1
9
FREAKONOMICS: A ROGUE ECONOMIST EXPLORES
THE HIDDEN SIDE OF EVERYTHING(Morrow, $25.95)
By Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
31
10
THE COMPLETE CALVIN AND HOBBES
(Andrews McMeel, $150). By Bill Watterson.The cartoon strip in its entirety from its first syndication in 1985.
5

Rankings reflect sales for the week ended November 13, 2005. The charts may not be reproduced without permission from Nielsen BookScan. Copyright 2005 by Nielsen BookScan. (Right-hand column of italicized numbers reflects weeks on this list, which premiered in Book World on Jan. 11, 2004. Advice, reference and self-help books appear on a separate, monthly list.)

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	Paperback
	Fiction
1	STATE OF FEAR(Avon, $7.99). By Michael Crichton Eco-terrorists plot to create "natural disasters" in an effort to further their radical agenda.	3
2	WHITEOUT(Signet, $7.99). By Ken Follett The debt-ridden son of a pharmaceutical company's founder burgles the lab, with unforeseen consequences.	3
3	THE KITE RUNNER(Riverhead, $14). By Khaled Hosseini An Afghan immigrant returns to his Taliban-ruled country in the hope of atoning for a childhood betrayal.	58
4	NIGHT FALL(Warner Vision, $7.99). By Nelson Demille Anti-terrorist expert John Corey is driven to reassess the 1996 crash of TWA Flight 800 off Long Island.	3
5	MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA(Vintage, $14.95) By Arthur Golden.The celebrated geisha, Sayuri, relates her rise to fame and fortune in 1930's imperial Japan.	1
6	WICKED: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST(Regan, $15). By Gregory Maguire This riff on the "Oz" tales features a misunderstood witch.	13
7	LONDON BRIDGES(Warner Vision, $7.99) By James Patterson.Alex Cross's nemesis, the Wolf, aims to extort billions by threatening to annihilate entire cities.	7
8	LIFE EXPECTANCY(Bantam, $7.99). By Dean Koontz Jimmy Took, buffeted by destiny, musters decency and strength to cope with five days of horror.	3
9	LIGHT ON SNOW(Back Bay, $14.95). By Anita Shreve The emotional repercussions of a father and daughter's discovery of an abandoned infant in the woods.	8
10	DARK WATCH(Berkley, $16). By Clive Cussler and Jack DuBrul.Pirates prowling the waters of Southeast Asia threaten the livelihood of powerful shipping magnates.	2
	Nonfiction/General
1	A MILLION LITTLE PIECES(Anchor, $14.95) By James Frey.A former screenwriter and drug dealer chronicles his addiction and recovery.	8
2	THE TIPPING POINT: HOW LITTLE THINGS CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE(Back Bay, $14.95) By Malcolm Gladwell.A look at fads and their origins.	46
3	JARHEAD: A MARINE'S CHRONICLE OF THE GULF WAR AND OTHER BATTLES (Pocket, $7.99; Scribner, $15). By Anthony Swofford	4
4	WHY DO MEN HAVE NIPPLES?(Three Rivers, $12.95) By Mark Leyner and Billy Goldberg.Audacious questions to ask your doctor after that third cocktail.	14
5	IN COLD BLOOD(Vintage, $14). By Truman Capote Its melding of crime reportage and a novel's structure made this account of a 1959 Kansas murder an instant classic.	4
6	BAD CAT: 244 NOT-SO-PRETTY KITTIES AND CATS GONE BAD(Workman, $9.99). By Jim Edgar Candid photos of felines acting up and acting out.	31
7	THE DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY(Vintage, $14.95) By Erik Larson.Serial killer H.H. Holmes preys on Chicago residents amid the bustle of the 1893 World's Fair.	89
8	HIS EXCELLENCY: GEORGE WASHINGTON (Vintage, $15). By Joseph J. Ellis.A biography of the statesman from British army soldier to U.S. president.	1
9	READING LOLITA IN TEHRAN(Random House, $13.95) By Azar Nafisi.A professor recalls her clandestine Western literature discussion groups for women.	93
10	GUNS, GERMS, AND STEEL(Norton, $16.95) By Jared Diamond.The impact of geography and the environment on the course of civilization.	48
	Hardcover
	Fiction
1	A FEAST FOR CROWS(Spectra, $28) By George R.R. Martin.An anxious peace settles over the Seven Kingdoms in this fourth book of Martin's epic saga.	1
2	THE CAMEL CLUB(Warner, $26.95). By David Baldacci A band of zealous conspiracy theorists stumbles across intrigue after witnessing a murder on Roosevelt Island.	3
3	LIGHT FROM HEAVEN(Viking, $26.95). By Jan Karon Father Tim endeavors to revitalize a long-neglected mountain church in the Mitford Years series' swan song.	1
4	PREDATOR(Putnam, $26.95). By Patricia Cornwell Forensic examiner Kay Scarpetta, now based in Florida, is stymied by a series of bizarre slayings and thorny clues.	3
5	AT FIRST SIGHT(Warner, $24.95). By Nicholas Sparks Jeremy Marsh and Lexie Darnell, last seen in Sparks's "True Believer," are coping with the stress of engagement.	4
6	CHRIST THE LORD: OUT OF EGYPT(Knopf, $25.95) By Anne Rice.The Holy Family's trek back to Nazareth from Egypt, narrated by a 7-year-old Jesus.	2
7	ORDINARY HEROES(FSG, $25). By Scott Turow A cache of lost letters compels a retired crime reporter to delve into his father's often murky WWII service.	2
8	KNIFE OF DREAMS: BOOK ELEVEN OF THE WHEEL OF TIME(Tor, $29.95). By Robert Jordan The penultimate volume of Jordan's fantasy epic.	5
9	TOXIC BACHELORS(Delacorte, $27). By Danielle Steel Charles, Adam and Gray, confirmed bachelors thriving professionally at mid-life, meet their romantic matches.	3
10	MEMORIES OF MY MELANCHOLY WHORES(Knopf, $20) By Gabriel Garca Mrquez.This novella's 90-year-old raconteur reflects on a life of trifling pleasure and idleness.	1
	Nonfiction/General
1	TEAM OF RIVALS: THE POLITICAL GENIUS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN(Simon & Schuster, $35) By Doris Kearns Goodwin.Presidential finesse.	3
2	OUR ENDANGERED VALUES: AMERICA'S MORAL CRISIS(Simon & Schuster, $25). By Jimmy Carter Cautioning against religious fundamentalism's influence.	2
3	THE WORLD IS FLAT: A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY(FSG, $27.50) By Thomas L. Friedman.Globalism's colossal impact.	32
4	ARE MEN NECESSARY? WHEN SEXES COLLIDE (Putnam, $25.95). By Maureen Dowd.A collection of columns on sex, feminism and gender relations.	1
5	HEALTHY AGING: A LIFELONG GUIDE TO YOUR PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING(Knopf, $27.95) By Andrew Weil.A new perspective for staying vibrant.	4
6	THE TRUTH: WITH JOKES(Dutton, $25.95) By Al Franken.The cheeky satirist's follow-up to "Lies" aims to debunk the conservative media spin.	3
7	THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING(Knopf, $23.95) By Joan Didion.A memoir of grief and mourning; winner of the 2005 National Book Award for nonfiction.	6
8	TALK TO THE HAND:THE UTTER BLOODY RUDENESS OF THE WORLD TODAY ...(Gotham, $20). By Lynne Truss Is polite society dead? Are cell phones to blame? Read on.	1
9	FREAKONOMICS: A ROGUE ECONOMIST EXPLORES THE HIDDEN SIDE OF EVERYTHING(Morrow, $25.95) By Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner	31
10	THE COMPLETE CALVIN AND HOBBES (Andrews McMeel, $150). By Bill Watterson.The cartoon strip in its entirety from its first syndication in 1985.	5