Washington Area Bestsellers

Washington Area Bestsellers

Sunday, December 4, 2005

Paperback
Fiction
1
THE BROKER(Dell, $7.99). By John Grisham
The CIA finagles the release of an attorney from federal prison to gain access to a satellite surveillance system.
1
2
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA(Vintage, $14.95)
By Arthur Golden.The celebrated geisha, Sayuri, relates her rise to fame and fortune in 1930s imperial Japan.
3
3
STATE OF FEAR(Avon, $7.99). By Michael Crichton
Eco-terrorists plot to create "natural disasters" in an effort to further their radical agenda.
5
4
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.
60
5
WHITEOUT(Signet, $7.99). By Ken Follett
The debt-ridden son of a pharmaceutical company's founder burgles the lab, with unforeseen consequences.
5
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.
15
7
BLOOD MEMORY(Pocket Star, $9.95). By Greg Iles
Forensic dentist Cat Ferry consults on a string of serial murders in Natchez, Miss., while juggling personal crises.
1
8
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.
5
9
VANISHING ACTS(Washington Square, $14)
By Jodi Picoult.A young woman confronts the painful reality that she was kidnapped as a child by her own father.
2
10
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.
9
Nonfiction/General
1
A MILLION LITTLE PIECES(Anchor, $14.95)
By James Frey.A former screenwriter and drug dealer chronicles his addiction and recovery.
10
2
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.
16
3
JARHEAD: A MARINE'S CHRONICLE OF THE
GULF WAR AND OTHER BATTLES
(Pocket, $7.99; Scribner, $15). By Anthony Swofford
6
4
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.
6
5
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.
48
6
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.
91
7
HIS EXCELLENCY: GEORGE WASHINGTON
(Vintage, $15). By Joseph J. Ellis.A biography of the statesman from British army soldier to U.S. president.
3
8
READING LOLITA IN TEHRAN(Random House, $13.95)
By Azar Nafisi.A professor recalls her clandestine Western literature discussion groups for women.
95
9
GUNS, GERMS, AND STEEL(Norton, $16.95)
By Jared Diamond.The impact of geography and the environment on the course of civilization.
50
10
THE GREAT INFLUENZA: THE EPIC STORY OF THE
DEADLIEST PLAGUE IN HISTORY(Penguin, $16)
By John M. Barry.The worldwide toll of the 1918 virus.
3
Hardcover
Fiction
1
MARY, MARY(Little, Brown, $27.95)
By James Patterson.Hollywood's A-list stars look to Alex Cross to protect them from a vicious serial killer.
2
2
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.
3
3
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.
5
4
THE LIGHTHOUSE(Knopf, $25.95). By P.D. James
Commander Dalgliesh is dispatched to Combe Island, an isolated retreat for the well-to-do, where murder is afoot.
1
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.
5
6
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.
5
7
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.
3
8
DARK LORD: THE RISE OF DARTH VADER
(Del Rey, $25.95). By James Luceno.The"Star Wars" saga picks up after the massacre at the Jedi Temple.
1
9
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.
4
10
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.
4
Nonfiction/General
1
TEAM OF RIVALS: THE POLITICAL GENIUS OF
ABRAHAM LINCOLN(Simon & Schuster, $35)
By Doris Kearns Goodwin.Presidential finesse.
5
2
TEACHER MAN: A MEMOIR(Scribner, $26)
By Frank McCourt.The author of "Angela's Ashes" recounts his tenure in the NYC public school system.
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.
34
4
OUR ENDANGERED VALUES: AMERICA'S MORAL
CRISIS(Simon & Schuster, $25). By Jimmy Carter
Cautioning against religious fundamentalism's influence.
4
5
FREAKONOMICS: A ROGUE ECONOMIST EXPLORES
THE HIDDEN SIDE OF EVERYTHING(Morrow, $25.95)
By Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
33
6
HEALTHY AGING: A LIFELONG GUIDE TO YOUR PHYSICAL
AND SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING(Knopf, $27.95)
By Andrew Weil.A new perspective for staying vibrant.
6
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.
8
8
THE COMPLETE CALVIN AND HOBBES
(Andrews McMeel, $150). By Bill Watterson.The cartoon strip in its entirety from its first syndication in 1985.
6
9
1776(Simon & Schuster, $32). By David McCullough
Military campaigns and personal narratives tell the story of the first full year of the American Revolution.
22
10
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.
5

Rankings reflect sales for the week ended November 27, 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. The advice/miscellaneous list below reflects sales from 10/31/05 to 11/27/05.)

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	Paperback
	Fiction
1	THE BROKER(Dell, $7.99). By John Grisham The CIA finagles the release of an attorney from federal prison to gain access to a satellite surveillance system.	1
2	MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA(Vintage, $14.95) By Arthur Golden.The celebrated geisha, Sayuri, relates her rise to fame and fortune in 1930s imperial Japan.	3
3	STATE OF FEAR(Avon, $7.99). By Michael Crichton Eco-terrorists plot to create "natural disasters" in an effort to further their radical agenda.	5
4	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.	60
5	WHITEOUT(Signet, $7.99). By Ken Follett The debt-ridden son of a pharmaceutical company's founder burgles the lab, with unforeseen consequences.	5
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.	15
7	BLOOD MEMORY(Pocket Star, $9.95). By Greg Iles Forensic dentist Cat Ferry consults on a string of serial murders in Natchez, Miss., while juggling personal crises.	1
8	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.	5
9	VANISHING ACTS(Washington Square, $14) By Jodi Picoult.A young woman confronts the painful reality that she was kidnapped as a child by her own father.	2
10	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.	9
	Nonfiction/General
1	A MILLION LITTLE PIECES(Anchor, $14.95) By James Frey.A former screenwriter and drug dealer chronicles his addiction and recovery.	10
2	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.	16
3	JARHEAD: A MARINE'S CHRONICLE OF THE GULF WAR AND OTHER BATTLES (Pocket, $7.99; Scribner, $15). By Anthony Swofford	6
4	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.	6
5	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.	48
6	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.	91
7	HIS EXCELLENCY: GEORGE WASHINGTON (Vintage, $15). By Joseph J. Ellis.A biography of the statesman from British army soldier to U.S. president.	3
8	READING LOLITA IN TEHRAN(Random House, $13.95) By Azar Nafisi.A professor recalls her clandestine Western literature discussion groups for women.	95
9	GUNS, GERMS, AND STEEL(Norton, $16.95) By Jared Diamond.The impact of geography and the environment on the course of civilization.	50
10	THE GREAT INFLUENZA: THE EPIC STORY OF THE DEADLIEST PLAGUE IN HISTORY(Penguin, $16) By John M. Barry.The worldwide toll of the 1918 virus.	3
	Hardcover
	Fiction
1	MARY, MARY(Little, Brown, $27.95) By James Patterson.Hollywood's A-list stars look to Alex Cross to protect them from a vicious serial killer.	2
2	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.	3
3	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.	5
4	THE LIGHTHOUSE(Knopf, $25.95). By P.D. James Commander Dalgliesh is dispatched to Combe Island, an isolated retreat for the well-to-do, where murder is afoot.	1
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.	5
6	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.	5
7	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.	3
8	DARK LORD: THE RISE OF DARTH VADER (Del Rey, $25.95). By James Luceno.The"Star Wars" saga picks up after the massacre at the Jedi Temple.	1
9	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.	4
10	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.	4
	Nonfiction/General
1	TEAM OF RIVALS: THE POLITICAL GENIUS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN(Simon & Schuster, $35) By Doris Kearns Goodwin.Presidential finesse.	5
2	TEACHER MAN: A MEMOIR(Scribner, $26) By Frank McCourt.The author of "Angela's Ashes" recounts his tenure in the NYC public school system.	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.	34
4	OUR ENDANGERED VALUES: AMERICA'S MORAL CRISIS(Simon & Schuster, $25). By Jimmy Carter Cautioning against religious fundamentalism's influence.	4
5	FREAKONOMICS: A ROGUE ECONOMIST EXPLORES THE HIDDEN SIDE OF EVERYTHING(Morrow, $25.95) By Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner	33
6	HEALTHY AGING: A LIFELONG GUIDE TO YOUR PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING(Knopf, $27.95) By Andrew Weil.A new perspective for staying vibrant.	6
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.	8
8	THE COMPLETE CALVIN AND HOBBES (Andrews McMeel, $150). By Bill Watterson.The cartoon strip in its entirety from its first syndication in 1985.	6
9	1776(Simon & Schuster, $32). By David McCullough Military campaigns and personal narratives tell the story of the first full year of the American Revolution.	22
10	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.	5