Washington Area Bestsellers

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Sunday, December 11, 2005

Paperback
Fiction
1
RED LILY(Jove, $7.99). By Nora Roberts
The ghost of the Harper bride becomes malevolent when the current Harper scion finds a new paramour.
1
2
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.
2
3
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.
4
4
GOING HOME(Silhouette, $7.99). By Nora Roberts
Three novellas reprinted in a new omnibus: "Unfinished Business," "Island of Flowers" and "Mind Over Matter."
1
5
STATE OF FEAR(Avon, $7.99). By Michael Crichton
Eco-terrorists plot to create "natural disasters" in an effort to further their radical agenda.
6
6
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.
61
7
WHITEOUT(Signet, $7.99). By Ken Follett
The debt-ridden son of a pharmaceutical company's founder burgles the lab, with unforeseen consequences.
6
8
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.
2
9
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.
6
10
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.
16
Nonfiction/General
1
A MILLION LITTLE PIECES(Anchor, $14.95)
By James Frey.A former screenwriter and drug dealer chronicles his addiction and recovery.
11
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.
17
3
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.
49
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.
7
5
JARHEAD: A MARINE'S CHRONICLE OF THE
GULF WAR AND OTHER BATTLES
(Pocket, $7.99; Scribner, $15). By Anthony Swofford
7
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.
92
7
GUNS, GERMS, AND STEEL(Norton, $16.95)
By Jared Diamond.The impact of geography and the environment on the course of civilization.
51
8
HIS EXCELLENCY: GEORGE WASHINGTON
(Vintage, $15). By Joseph J. Ellis.A biography of the statesman from British army soldier to U.S. president.
4
9
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.
33
10
BAD DOG: 278 OUTSPOKEN, INDECENT, AND
OVERDRESSED DOGS(Workman, $9.95)
By R.D. Rosen, Harry Prichett and Rob Battles
4
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.
3
2
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.
2
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.
6
4
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.
4
5
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.
6
6
FOREVER ODD(Bantam, $27). By Dean Koontz
Odd Thomas, who can see the dead, is "asked" for help by the ghost of his father's best friend, recently murdered.
1
7
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.
6
8
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.
5
9
SAVING FISH FROM DROWNING(Putnam, $26.95)
By Amy Tan.A Burmese vacation is scuttled when American travelers are seized by a mystical rebel tribe.
5
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.
5
Nonfiction/General
1
THE WORLD IS FLAT: A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE
TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY(FSG, $27.50)
By Thomas L. Friedman.Globalism's colossal impact.
35
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.
3
3
TEAM OF RIVALS: THE POLITICAL GENIUS OF
ABRAHAM LINCOLN(Simon & Schuster, $35)
By Doris Kearns Goodwin.Presidential finesse.
6
4
OUR ENDANGERED VALUES: AMERICA'S MORAL
CRISIS(Simon & Schuster, $25). By Jimmy Carter
Cautioning against religious fundamentalism's influence.
5
5
THE COMPLETE CALVIN AND HOBBES
(Andrews McMeel, $150). By Bill Watterson.The cartoon strip in its entirety from its first syndication in 1985.
7
6
FREAKONOMICS: A ROGUE ECONOMIST EXPLORES
THE HIDDEN SIDE OF EVERYTHING(Morrow, $25.95)
By Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
34
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.
9
8
1776(Simon & Schuster, $32). By David McCullough
Military campaigns and personal narratives tell the story of the first full year of the American Revolution.
23
9
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.
6
10
HEALTHY AGING: A LIFELONG GUIDE TO YOUR PHYSICAL
AND SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING(Knopf, $27.95)
By Andrew Weil.A new perspective for staying vibrant.
7

Rankings reflect sales for the week ended December 4, 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	RED LILY(Jove, $7.99). By Nora Roberts The ghost of the Harper bride becomes malevolent when the current Harper scion finds a new paramour.	1
2	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.	2
3	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.	4
4	GOING HOME(Silhouette, $7.99). By Nora Roberts Three novellas reprinted in a new omnibus: "Unfinished Business," "Island of Flowers" and "Mind Over Matter."	1
5	STATE OF FEAR(Avon, $7.99). By Michael Crichton Eco-terrorists plot to create "natural disasters" in an effort to further their radical agenda.	6
6	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.	61
7	WHITEOUT(Signet, $7.99). By Ken Follett The debt-ridden son of a pharmaceutical company's founder burgles the lab, with unforeseen consequences.	6
8	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.	2
9	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.	6
10	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.	16
	Nonfiction/General
1	A MILLION LITTLE PIECES(Anchor, $14.95) By James Frey.A former screenwriter and drug dealer chronicles his addiction and recovery.	11
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.	17
3	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.	49
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.	7
5	JARHEAD: A MARINE'S CHRONICLE OF THE GULF WAR AND OTHER BATTLES (Pocket, $7.99; Scribner, $15). By Anthony Swofford	7
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.	92
7	GUNS, GERMS, AND STEEL(Norton, $16.95) By Jared Diamond.The impact of geography and the environment on the course of civilization.	51
8	HIS EXCELLENCY: GEORGE WASHINGTON (Vintage, $15). By Joseph J. Ellis.A biography of the statesman from British army soldier to U.S. president.	4
9	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.	33
10	BAD DOG: 278 OUTSPOKEN, INDECENT, AND OVERDRESSED DOGS(Workman, $9.95) By R.D. Rosen, Harry Prichett and Rob Battles	4
	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.	3
2	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.	2
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.	6
4	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.	4
5	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.	6
6	FOREVER ODD(Bantam, $27). By Dean Koontz Odd Thomas, who can see the dead, is "asked" for help by the ghost of his father's best friend, recently murdered.	1
7	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.	6
8	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.	5
9	SAVING FISH FROM DROWNING(Putnam, $26.95) By Amy Tan.A Burmese vacation is scuttled when American travelers are seized by a mystical rebel tribe.	5
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.	5
	Nonfiction/General
1	THE WORLD IS FLAT: A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY(FSG, $27.50) By Thomas L. Friedman.Globalism's colossal impact.	35
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.	3
3	TEAM OF RIVALS: THE POLITICAL GENIUS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN(Simon & Schuster, $35) By Doris Kearns Goodwin.Presidential finesse.	6
4	OUR ENDANGERED VALUES: AMERICA'S MORAL CRISIS(Simon & Schuster, $25). By Jimmy Carter Cautioning against religious fundamentalism's influence.	5
5	THE COMPLETE CALVIN AND HOBBES (Andrews McMeel, $150). By Bill Watterson.The cartoon strip in its entirety from its first syndication in 1985.	7
6	FREAKONOMICS: A ROGUE ECONOMIST EXPLORES THE HIDDEN SIDE OF EVERYTHING(Morrow, $25.95) By Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner	34
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.	9
8	1776(Simon & Schuster, $32). By David McCullough Military campaigns and personal narratives tell the story of the first full year of the American Revolution.	23
9	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.	6
10	HEALTHY AGING: A LIFELONG GUIDE TO YOUR PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING(Knopf, $27.95) By Andrew Weil.A new perspective for staying vibrant.	7