BESTSELLERS

*--* SO. CAL. RATING Fiction LAST WEEK WEEKS ON LIST 1 Christ the Lord by Anne -- 1 Rice (Alfred A. Knopf: $25.95) A 7-year-old Jesus leaves Egypt with his family to return to Nazareth after the death of King Herod.

2 The Sea by John Banville -- 1 (Alfred A. Knopf: $23) A widower struggles to rid himself of the yoke of memory by visiting the coastal town where he spent time as a boy.

3 Saving Fish From Drowning 3 3 by Amy Tan (Putnam: $26.95) A group of women embarks on an ill-fated art tour to Burma, a story told by a friend who has just been murdered.

4 Memories of My Melancholy 6 2 Whore by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (Alfred A. Knopf: $20) A nonagenarian journalist who falls for a 14-year-old virgin prostitute reflects on his life and loves.

5 The Camel Club by David 4 2 Baldacci (Warner Books: $26.95) Conspiracy theorists who witness the murder of a Secret Service agent are plunged into a real conspiracy.

6 Knife of Dreams by Robert 11 4 Jordan (Tor: $29.95) In Book 11 of the “Wheel of Time” series, war spreads to Tarmon Gai’don and an epic battle ensues between the Dragon Reborn and the Dark One.

7 Predator by Patricia 1 2 Cornwell (Putnam: $26.95) Kay Scarpetta is called to investigate the torture and murder of a woman in Boston and the disappearance of a Florida family.

8 Snow Flower and the Secret 13 16 Fan by Lisa See (Random House: $21.95) Two women in the cloistered society of 19th century China forge a close friendship that is threatened by misunderstanding.

9 The March by E.L. Doctorow 5 7 (Random House: $25.95) On the trail as Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman makes his historic sweep of Georgia, routs Confederate troops and destroys the countryside.

10 On Beauty by Zadie Smith 7 8 (Penguin: $25.95) Identity crises, adultery, racial conflict and religious zealotry afflict two families whose lives are a 21st century parallel to E.M. Forster’s “Howards End.”

11 Consent to Kill by Vince -- 3 Flynn (Atria: $25.95) CIA agent Mitch Rapp learns that his White House correspondent wife is pregnant as he eludes assassins and battles a new intelligence director.

12 Summer Crossing by Truman -- 1 Capote (Random House: $22.95) The long-lost first novel by the late raconteur tells the story of a young socialite and her dangerous romance.

13 The Lincoln Lawyer by 2 5 Michael Connelly (Little, Brown: $26.95) An L.A. attorney hired to defend a rich woman’s son fears for his own safety after the murder of his private investigator.

14 Ordinary Heroes by Scott -- 1 Turow (Farrar, Straus & Giroux: $25) A reporter looking into his late father’s military service uncovers evidence of illicit love and an undisclosed court-martial.

15 Eldest (Inheritance, Book 14 11 2) by Christopher Paolini (Alfred A. Knopf: $21) Eragon hones his battle skills as his cousin finds himself the target of evil forces.

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*--* SO. CAL. RATING Nonfiction LAST WEEK WEEKS ON LIST 1 The Year of Magical 1 6 Thinking by Joan Didion (Alfred A. Knopf: $23.95) The acclaimed author explores the nature of grief and survival in the months after her writer-husband’s sudden death.

2 Team of Rivals by Doris 2 2 Kearns Goodwin (Simon & Schuster: $35) How Abraham Lincoln, former one-term congressman, used his political savvy to bring powerful rivals into his Cabinet.

3 The Truth (With Jokes) by 5 3 Al Franken (Dutton: $25.95) The comedian rebuts claims and points out flip-flops made by the Bush administration and conservative pundits.

4 Healthy Aging by Andrew 3 3 Weil (Alfred A. Knopf: $27.95) A physician’s guide to welcoming the process of getting older through proper nutrition, exercise and meditation.

5 The World Is Flat by 6 30 Thomas L. Friedman (Farrar, Straus & Giroux: $27.50) How technology and the forces of globalization are connecting -- and changing -- the world.

6 700 Sundays by Billy -- 1 Crystal (Warner: $21.95) The actor and comedian tells the story of life with his father, a well-known jazz promoter, who died when Billy was a teen.

7 Our Endangered Values by -- 1 Jimmy Carter (Simon & Schuster: $25) The former president writes of his concern about the rise in Christian fundamentalism and its influence in politics.

8 The City of Falling Angels 4 6 by John Berendt (Penguin: $25.95) A fire that guts an opera house is the mystery the author of “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” uses to explore Venice, Italy.

9 Natural Cures “They” Don’t 7 20 Want You to Know About by Kevin Trudeau (Alliance Publishing: $29.95) The infomercial mogul touts alternative therapies and supplements.

10 Between You and Me by Mike -- 1 Wallace with Gary Paul Gates (Hyperion: $26.95) The “60 Minutes” veteran’s second memoir, complete with transcripts and DVD clips from his storied career.

11 Blink by Malcolm Gladwell -- 41 (Little, Brown: $25.95) An exploration of the workings of the human mind and perceptions and whether we can really trust our first instincts.

12 Dean & Me by Jerry Lewis -- 1 and James Kaplan (Doubleday: $26.95) Lewis recalls his decade-long partnership with Martin, whom he idolized and who he felt did not get the critical respect he deserved.

13 Are Men Necessary? by -- 1 Maureen Dowd (Putnam: $25.95) The columnist opines on the superiority of women in certain fields as she ponders the modern realities of relations between the sexes.

14 Dance in Cuba by Gil -- 1 Garcetti (Princeton Architectural Press: $65) Photographs capturing the form, movement and passion of Cubans in folk dance, ballet, flamenco and street performances.

15 The Elements of Style -- 1 Illustrated by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White (The Penguin Press: $24.95) The classic writing manual, updated with fanciful illustrations by Maira Kalman.

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