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Fiction

*--* Fiction weeks on list 1. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski (Ecco: 3 $25.95) A mute dog breeder is banished by his uncle in this twist on “Hamlet.” 2. Chasing Darkness by Robert Crais (Simon & Schuster: 3 $25.95) When a man cleared of a murder charge is found dead, Elvis Cole is called to account. 3. Swan Peak by James Lee Burke (Simon & Schuster: 2 $25.95) Private eye Dave Robicheaux tries to solve the killings of two Montana college students. 4. Rules of Deception by Christopher Reich (Doubleday: 1 $24.95) A doctor is on the run in the Swiss Alps in the aftermath of his wife’s death. 5. The Host by Stephenie Meyer (Little, Brown: $25.99) 11 Alien invaders take over the minds of humans. 6. Brida by Paulo Coelho (Harper: $24.95) An aspiring young 2 Irish magician embarks on a quest for knowledge of the spiritual world. 7. The Enchantress of Florence by Salman Rushdie (Random 8 House: $26) A traveler arrives at the Mughal emperor’s court with a beguiling tale. 8. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz 26 (Riverhead: $24.95) A sci-fi-loving nerd and his immigrant family are haunted by the past. 9. Tribute by Nora Roberts (Putnam: $26.95) A former child 2 actress tries to discover whether her movie-star grandmother’s death was suicide or murder 10. The Dawn Patrol by Don Winslow (Knopf: $23.95) A surfing 6 private eye trying to unravel an insurance scam tangles with thugs in San Diego. *--*

*--* Nonfiction 1. The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch with Jeffrey Zaslow 15 (Hyperion: $21.95) A professor’s terminal cancer inspires a call to seize life’s moments. 2. Life With My Sister Madonna by Christopher Ciccone 1 and Wendy Leigh (Simon Spotlight Entertainment: $26) A brother’s tale of life with the famous entertainer. 3. When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris 8 (Little, Brown: $25.99) Musings on life and smoking. 4. Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea by Chelsea 12 Handler (Simon Spotlight: $24.95) The talk-show host skewers dating, family and work. 5. Good Night Bush by Erich Origen and Gan Golan 1 (Little, Brown: $14.99) A parody of the children’s classic “Goodnight Moon.” 6. The Dark Side by Jane Mayer (Doubleday: $27.50) Mayer 1 argues that the White House amassed power in the post-9/11 state of panic to devastating results. 7. The Secret by Rhonda Byrne (Beyond Words: $23.95) 82 Life’s secrets, distilled from oral tradition, literature, religion and philosophy. 8. Fleeced by Dick Morris and Eileen McGann (Harper: 4 $26.95) How the average American is being sold out. 9. What Happened by Scott McClellan (PublicAffairs: 8 $27.95) The former Bush press secretary says the administration deceived the public about Iraq. 10. This Land Is Their Land by Barbara Ehrenreich 1 (Metropolitan Books: $24) A collection of biting essays on pop culture, politics and the economy. *--*

1. Away by Amy Bloom ($14)

2. Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson ($14)

3. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho ($13.95)

4. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini ($16)

5. On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan ($13.95)

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Nonfiction

1. Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin ($15)

2. A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle ($14)

3. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert ($15)

4. Wisdom of Our Fathers by Tim Russert ($13.95)

5. Big Russ & Me by Tim Russert ($13.95)

Rankings are based on a Times poll of Southland bookstores.