Best Sellers

This Last Weeks This Last Weeks Week FICTIONWeek On List Week NONFICTION Week On List

FOR ONE MORE DAY, by Mitch Albom. (Hyperion, 311 THE AUDACITY OF HOPE, by Barack Obama. 28 1 $21.95.) A troubled man gets a last chance to recon- 1 (Crown, $25.) The Illinois junior senator proposes that nect and restore his relationship with his dead mother. Americans move beyond their political divisions.

NEXT, by Michael Crichton. (HarperCollins, $27.95.) 22 THE INNOCENT MAN, by John Grisham. (Doubleday, 19 2 The author of “Jurassic Park” describes a not-too-dis- 2 $28.95.) Grisham’s first nonfiction book concerns a man tant future when genetic engineering runs amok. sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit.

CROSS, by James Patterson. (Little, Brown, $27.99.) 14 CULTURE WARRIOR, by Bill O’Reilly. (Broadway, $26.) 311 3 Alex Cross, retired from the F.B.I., has a chance to 3 The host of “The O’Reilly Factor” describes a culture track a rapist who may have murdered his wife. war between traditionalists and secular-progressives.

DEAR JOHN, by Nicholas Sparks. (Warner, $24.99.) 46 MARLEY & ME, by John Grogan. (Morrow, $29.95 and 460 4 An unlikely romance between a soldier and an idealis- 4 $21.95.) A newspaper columnist and his wife learn tic young woman is tested in the aftermath of 9/11. some life lessons from their neurotic dog.

* TREASURE OF KHAN, by Clive Cussler and Dirk Cus- 52 PALESTINE PEACE NOT APARTHEID, by Jimmy 73 5 sler. (Putnam, $27.95.) In his 19th adventure, Dirk Pitt 5 Carter. (Simon & Schuster, $27.) The former presi- confronts a murderous Mongolian tycoon who manipu- dent calls for revitalizing the peace process. lates the oil market and knows the secret of Genghis Khan . I FEEL BAD ABOUT MY NECK, by Nora Ephron. 519 6 (Knopf, $19.95.) A witty look at aging from a novelist HANNIBAL RISING, by Thomas Harris. (Delacorte, 1 and screenwriter (‘‘When Harry Met Sally’’). 6 $27.95.) The childhood and adolescence of Hannibal Lecter shed light on how he became “death’s prodigy.” I LIKE YOU, by Amy Sedaris. (Warner, $27.99.) A 88 7 wacky approach to entertaining from the actress and BROTHER ODD, by Dean Koontz. (Bantam, $27.) With 62 playwright. 7 his ability to see the spirits of the dead, Odd Thomas, a character in two previous novels by Koontz, heads off a THE GOD DELUSION, by Richard Dawkins. 612 catastrophe at a monastery . 8 (Houghton Mifflin, $27.) An Oxford scientist asserts that belief in God is irrational and that religion has NATURE GIRL, by Carl Hiaasen. (Knopf, $25.95.) A 84 done great harm in the world. 8 single mother takes revenge on her lecherous ex-boss and an annoying telemarketer in the Florida Keys. THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE THUNDERBOLT KID, 10 8 9 by Bill Bryson. (Broadway, $25.) A memoir of grow- * WILD FIRE, by Nelson DeMille. (Warner, $26.99.) 75 ing up in mid-America at midcentury by the author of 9 Detective John Corey and his wife, an F.B.I. agent, ‘‘A Short History of Nearly Everything.’’ help to foil a nuclear plot against the United States. THE WORLD IS FLAT, by Thomas L. Friedman. (Far- 13 88 LISEY’S STORY, by Stephen King. (Scribner, $28.) A 10 7 10 rar, Straus & Giroux, $30.) A columnist for The New 10 widow’s journey through grief after the death of her York Times analyzes 21st-century economics and for- husband, a famous novelist with terrible memories. eign policy.

THE SHAPE SHIFTER, by Tony Hillerman. (Harper- 93 THE MR. AND MRS. HAPPY HANDBOOK, by Steve 98 11 Collins, $26.95.) Lt. Joe Leaphorn, a tribal detective, 11 Doocy. (Morrow, $23.95.) Humorous observations on tracks down an antique Navajo rug with a complicat- marriage and family life. ed history. FREAKONOMICS, by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. 14 83 THE BOLEYN INHERITANCE, by Philippa Gregory. 1 12 Dubner. (Morrow, $27.95.) A maverick scholar and a 12 (Touchstone/Simon & Schuster, $25.95.) Politics and journalist apply economic theory to everything from treachery in the court of Henry VIII, narrated by three cheating sumo wrestlers to abortion and the falling women, two of them his sometime wives. crime rate.

SANTA CRUISE, by Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Hig- 11 4 A PHOTOGRAPHER’S LIFE, by Annie Leibovitz. 16 3 13 gins Clark. (Scribner, $22.) Passengers on a Christmas 13 (Random House, $75.) More than 300 images, 1990- cruise for charity, including an amateur sleuth, manage 2005, mixing Leibovitz’s trademark celebrity photos to foil two escaping felons. with intensely personal work.

THIRTEEN MOONS, by Charles Frazier. (Random 15 10 THE BLIND SIDE, by Michael Lewis. (Norton, $24.95.) 3 14 House, $26.95.) A man raised in the North Carolina 14 The evolving business of football, viewed through the wilderness travels America in defense of his adopted rise of the left tackle Michael Oher. Indian people and broods over an elusive woman. STATE OF DENIAL, by Bob Woodward. (Simon & Schus- 11 11 * FIRST IMPRESSIONS, by Nora Roberts. (Silhouette, 14 7 15 ter, $30.) The third “Bush at War” volume by the long- 15 $17.95.) Seeking peace, a wealthy businessman re- time Washington Post reporter and editor describes a treats to a small town but his lovely and charitable dysfunctional administration’s inept conduct of the in- neighbor won’t stay away; reprint of a 1984 novel. vasion and occupation of Iraq.

Rankings reflect sales, for the week ended December 9, at almost 4,000 bookstores plus wholesalers serving 50,000 other retailers, statistically weighted to represent all such outlets nationwide. An asterisk (*) indicates that a book’s sales are barely distinguishable from those of the book above. A dagger (†) indicates that some bookstores report receiving bulk orders. Expanded rankings are available at The New York Times on the Web: nytimes.com/books. Copyright © 2006 by December 24, 2006 The New York Times THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW Paperback Best Sellers

This Weeks This Weeks Week FICTIONOn List Week NONFICTION On List

THE MEMORY KEEPER’S DAUGHTER, by Kim 25 1 Edwards. (Penguin, $14.) A doctor’s decision to THE IRAQ STUDY GROUP REPORT, by James A. 1 secretly send his newborn daughter, who has Down 1 Baker III and Lee H. Hamilton et al. (Vintage, syndrome, to an institution haunts everyone involved. $10.95.) An assessment of America’s involvement in the Iraq war with proposals for a plan of action. CELL, by Stephen King. (Pocket Star, $9.99.) What 3 2 remains of humanity fights to survive after a RUNNING WITH SCISSORS, by Augusten 122 mysterious force scrambles cellphone users’ brains. 2 Burroughs. (Picador, $14 and $7.99.) In the 1970s, a young boy lives with a crazy psychiatrist in a squalid S IS FOR SILENCE, by Sue Grafton. (Berkley, 2 household. 3 $7.99.) Kinsey Millhone searches for a woman who disappeared 34 years ago. FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS, by James Bradley with 22 3 Ron Powers. (Bantam, $14 and $7.99.) The story of THE TENTH CIRCLE, by Jodi Picoult. (Washington 6 the six men who raised the flag at Iwo Jima. 4 Square, $15.) When his teenage daughter is date- raped, a comic-book artist is overwhelmed by rage. THE GLASS CASTLE, by Jeannette Walls. (Scribner, 48 4 $14.) The author recalls a bizarre childhood during ON THE RUN, by Iris Johansen. (Bantam, $7.99.) A 2 which she and her siblings were constantly moved. 5 girl and her mother, a horse trainer who once worked for the C.I.A., are targets of a Middle Eastern magnate. THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS, by Chris Gardner 3 5 with Quincy Troupe and Mim Eichler Rivas. * READY FOR LOVE, by Debbie Macomber. (Mira, 2 (Amistad/HarperCollins, $14.95.) Gardner’s life 6 $7.50.) Reprints of two romances involving two story, from a grim childhood to homelessness to, brothers. finally, the success he had long sought.

TURNING ANGEL, by Greg Iles. (Pocket, $9.99.) To 2 DREAMS FROM MY FATHER, by Barack Obama. 55 7 defend a friend wrongly accused of murder, a 6 (Three Rivers, $13.95.) The Democratic senator Mississippi lawyer must investigate local students. from Illinois reflects on life as the son of a black African father and white American mother. THE LAST TEMPLAR, by Raymond Khoury. (Signet, 2 8 $9.99.) A coding device stolen from an exhibit of AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, by Al Gore. (Rodale, 24 Vatican artifacts may hold clues to the medieval 7 $21.95.) The former vice president sounds an alarm Knights Templar’s lost treasure — and their secrets. about global warming.

VALLEY OF SILENCE, by Nora Roberts. (Jove, $7.99.) 6 AMERICA (THE BOOK), by Jon Stewart, Ben Karlin, 6 9 The circle of six go into battle to save humans from the 8 David Javerbaum et al. (Warner, $15.99.) ‘‘The Daily vampire Lilith in the final Circle Trilogy book. Show’’ offers an illustrated parody of a civics text.

* DROP DEAD GORGEOUS, by Linda Howard. 2 * TEAM OF RIVALS, by Doris Kearns Goodwin. 11 10 (Ballantine, $7.99.) As she prepares for her wedding, 9 (Simon & Schuster, $19.95.) The genius of Abraham Blair Mallory becomes the target of a killer. Lincoln revealed in his relationship with his cabinet.

REBELLION, by Nora Roberts. (Silhouette, $7.99.) A 2 THE TIPPING POINT, by Malcolm Gladwell. (Back 122 11 reprint of an early historical romance about a Scottish 10 Bay/Little, Brown, $14.95.) A journalist’s study of beauty who finds love in the enemy camp. social epidemics, otherwise known as fads.

FOREVER ODD, by Dean Koontz. (Bantam, $7.99.) 6 90 MINUTES IN HEAVEN, by Don Piper with Cecil 7 12 Odd Thomas, a character from Koontz’s 2003 novel 11 Murphey. (Revell, $12.99.) A Baptist minister of the same name, searches for a missing friend. describes the otherworldly experience he had after a car accident. THE CHRISTMAS THIEF, by Mary Higgins Clark 6 13 and Carol Higgins Clark. (Pocket, $7.99.) Treasure is HOLIDAYS ON ICE, by David Sedaris. (Back Bay/ 16 hidden in a spruce destined for Rockefeller Center. 12 Little, Brown, $8.95.) Comic essays about Christmas.

FALSE IMPRESSION, by Jeffrey Archer. 2 1776, by David McCullough. (Simon & Schuster, 21 14 (St.Martin’s, $9.99.) The Sept. 11 attacks play a role in 13 $18.) An account of America’s founding year this thriller involving murder and art thieves. focusing on the inexperienced George Washington.

THE KITE RUNNER, by Khaled Hosseini. (Riverhead, 105 THE WORST HARD TIME, by Timothy Egan. 1 15 $15.95 and $14.) An Afghan-American returns to Kabul 14 (Mariner/Houghton Mifflin, $14.95.) What happened to learn how his friend has fared under the Taliban. to those who stayed put during the 1930s Dust Bowl.

* THE ALCHEMIST, by Paulo Coelho. (Harper- 4 TEACHER MAN, by Frank McCourt. (Scribner, $15.) 12 16 SanFrancisco, $13.95 and $13.) A Spanish shepherd 15 The author of ‘‘Angela’s Ashes’’ remembers his boy travels to Egypt in search of treasure. years teaching high school in New York City.

Rankings reflect sales, for the week ended December 9, at almost 4,000 bookstores plus wholesalers serving 60,000 other retailers (gift shops, department stores, news- stands, supermarkets), statistically weighted to represent all such outlets nationwide. An asterisk (*) indicates that a book’s sales are barely distinguishable from those of the book above. A dagger (†) indicates that some bookstores report receiving bulk orders. Expanded rankings are available at The New York Times on the Web: nytimes.com/books. Copyright © 2006 by THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW December 24, 2006 The New York Times Best Sellers Expanded List

HARDCOVER FICTION HARDCOVER NON-FICTION

16 THE COLLECTORS, by David Baldacci (Warner) 16 THUNDERSTRUCK, by Erik Larson (Crown)

H.R.H., by Danielle Steel (Delacorte) 17 U2 BY U2, by Bono, the Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. 17 with Neil McCormick (HarperCollins)

THE RISING TIDE, by Jeff Shaara (Ballantine) 18 18 MAYFLOWER, by Nathaniel Philbrick (Viking)

19 HOLLYWOOD STATION, by Joseph Wambaugh (Little, Brown) 19 IT’S OKAY TO MISS THE BED ON THE FIRST JUMP, by John O’ Hurley (Hudson Street) 20 THE THIRTEENTH TALE, by Diane Setterfield (Atria) 20 A HAND TO GUIDE ME, by Denzel Washington with Daniel Paisner (Meredith) 21 FINDING NOEL, by Richard Paul Evans (Simon & Schuster) 21 SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: THE BASEBALL BOOK, (Sports 22 THE SHEPHERD, THE ANGEL, AND WALTER THE CHRISTMAS Illustrated) MIRACLE DOG, by Dave Barry (Putnam) 22 FROM BAGHDAD, WITH LOVE, by Jay Kopelman with Melinda Roth (Lyons) 23 ACT OF TREASON, by Vince Flynn (Atria) 23 BLOOD AND THUNDER, by Hampton Sides (Doubleday) 24 ECHO PARK, by Michael Connelly (Little, Brown) 24 THE OMNIVORE'S DILEMMA, by Michael Pollan (Penguin Press) 25 SUITE FRANÇAISE, by Irene Nemirovsky (Knopf) 25 GOOD TO GREAT, by Jim Collins (HarperBusiness) 26 BLUE CHRISTMAS, by Mary Kay Andrews (HarperCollins) 26 LESSONS IN BECOMING MYSELF, by Ellen Burstyn (Riverhead) 27 CELEBRATIONS, by Maya Angelou (Random House) 27 SEA OF THUNDER, by Evan Thomas (Simon & Schuster)

AGAINST THE DAY, by Thomas Pynchon (Penguin) 28 28 THE AUDREY HEPBURN TREASURES, by Ellen Erwin and Jessica Z. Diamond (Atria) 29 WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, by Sara Gruen (Algonquin) 29 IT'S NO SECRET, by Carmen Bryan (VH-1/Pocket) 30 JOHN'S STORY, by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins (Putnam MY SECRET, compiled by Frank Warren (Regan/Harper- Praise) 30 Collins)

31 HOME TO BIG STONE GAP, by Adriana Trigiani (Random House) 31 NAMATH, by Joe Namath (Rugged Land)

32 WHAT IS THE WHAT, by Dave Eggers (McSweeney's) 32 LETTER TO A CHRISTIAN NATION, by Sam Harris (Knopf)

33 THE ROAD, by Cormac McCarthy (Knopf) 33 AMERICA ALONE, by Mark Steyn (Regnery)

WALT DISNEY, by Neal Gabler (Knopf) 34 THE CHRISTMAS SHOES, by Donna VanLiere (St. Martin's) 34 35 I SHOULDN'T EVEN BE DOING THIS!, by Bob Newhart 35 BORN IN DEATH, by J. D. Robb (Putnam) (Hyperion) Copyright © 2006 by THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW December 24, 2006 The New York Times Best Sellers Expanded List

PAPERBACK FICTION PAPERBACK NON-FICTION

17 SAVING FISH FROM DROWNING, by Amy Tan (Ballantine) 16 THE DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY, by Erik Larson (Vintage)

18 KNIFE OF DREAMS, by Robert Jordan (Tor) 17 THE PLACES IN BETWEEN, by Rory Stewart (Harvest/Harcourt)

19 THE AMBLER WARNING, by Robert Ludlum (St. Martin’s) 18 NIGHT, by Elie Wiesel (Hill & Wang)

TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE, by Mitch Albom (Broadway/Anchor) 20 THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN, by Mitch Albom 19 (Hyperion) 20 THE CITY OF FALLING ANGELS, by John Berendt (Penguin) 21 TEMPEST, by Troy Denning (Lucas/Del Rey/Ballantine) 21 BANKER TO THE POOR, by Muhammad Yunus (PublicAffairs) 22 WICKED, by Gregory Maguire (ReganBooks/HarperCollins) 22 THE END OF FAITH, by Sam Harris (Norton)

SNOW FLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN, by Lisa See (Random 23 1491, by Charles C. Mann (Vintage) House) 23

24 NO REGRETS, by Ann Rule (Pocket Star) 24 HALO: GHOSTS OF ONYX, by Eric Nylund (Tor/Tom Doherty) 25 THE ZOMBIE SURVIVAL GUIDE, by Max Brooks (Three Rivers) 25 THE PRINCE KIDNAPS A BRIDE, by Christina Dodd (Avon) 26 THE RIVER OF DOUBT, by Candice Millard (Broadway) 26 DANCE OF THE GODS, by Nora Roberts (Jove) 27 BLUE LIKE JAZZ, by Donald Miller (Nelson) 27 THE GILDED WEB, by Mary Balogh (Dell) 28 GUNS, GERMS AND STEEL, by Jared Diamond (Norton) 28 MARY, MARY, by James Patterson (Warner Vision) 29 MOUNTAINS BEYOND MOUNTAINS, by Tracy Kidder (Random 29 MORRIGAN'S CROSS, by Nora Roberts (Jove) House)

OUR ENDANGERED VALUES, by Jimmy Carter (Simon & Schuster) 30 TOM CLANCY’S SPLINTER CELL: CHECKMATE, by David 30 Michaels (Berkley) 31 THE ESSAYS OF WARREN BUFFETT, by Warren E. Buffett and Lawrence A. Cunningham (The Cunningham Group) 31 SWEET REVENGE, by Fern Michaels (Zebra) 32 A SHORT HISTORY OF NEARLY EVERYTHING, by Bill Bryson THE DA VINCI CODE, by Dan Brown (Anchor/Broadway) 32 (Broadway)

33 PLEASURE FOR PLEASURE, by Eloisa James (Avon) 33 MARIE ANTOINETTE, by Antonia Fraser (Anchor)

34 THANKSGIVING, by Janet Evanovich (HarperTorch) 34 COLLAPSE, by Jared Diamond (Penguin)

35 DARK SIDE OF THE MOON, by Sherrilyn Kenyon (St. Martin's) 35 HOMELAND INSECURITY, by Onion Editors (Three Rivers) Copyright © 2006 by December 24, 2006 The New York Times THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW Advice, How-To and Miscellaneous HARDCOVER PAPERBACK

YOU: ON A DIET, by Michael F. Roizen and Mehmet 6 2, 4, 6, 8, by Rachael Ray. (Clarkson Potter, 5 1 C. Oz et al. (Free Press, $25.) Weight-loss tips. 1 $19.95.) Recipes from the Food Network host for groups of many sizes. MAD MONEY, by James J. Cramer with Cliff 1 2 Mason. (Simon & Schuster, $25.) How to put advice THE WORLD ALMANAC & BOOK OF FACTS 2007. 4 from the TV show “Mad Money” into practice. 2 (World Almanac, $12.99.) The latest edition of a reference work, covering topics like science, JOY OF COOKING, by Irma S. Rombauer, Marion 4 politics and history, issued annually since 1868. 3 Rombauer Becker and Ethan Becker. (Scribner, $30.) Marking 75 years of ‘‘Joy.’’ PICTURE PUZZLE. (Life/Time Home Entertainment, 2 3 $7.99.) ‘‘Spot the difference’’ photographs, from GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS 2007. (Guinness, 13 novice to ‘‘genius’’ level. 4 $28.95.) Records about many subjects. 365: NO REPEATS, by Rachael Ray. (Clarkson 33 BAREFOOT CONTESSA AT HOME, by Ina Garten. 7 4 Potter, $19.95.) A year’s worth of dinner recipes 5 (Clarkson Potter, $35.) Dishes for friends and family. from the Food Network host.

* PAULA DEEN CELEBRATES!, by Paula Deen with 9 1,000 PLACES TO SEE BEFORE YOU DIE, by 59 6 Martha Nesbit. (Simon & Schuster, $26.) Recipes for 5 Patricia Schultz. (Workman, $18.95.) A reference many occasions. book for travelers. Advice, How-To and Miscellaneous Expanded List HARDCOVER PAPERBACK

7 THE SECRET, by Rhonda Byrne (Atria/Beyond Words) 6 THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC 2007, by Old Farmer’s Almanac (Yankee/Houghton Mifflin)

HOMEKEEPING HANDBOOK, by Martha Stewart (Clarkson Potter) 8 7 BAD PRESIDENT, by R.D. Rosen, Harry Prichett, and Rob Battles (Workman) 9 YOU: THE OWNER’S MANUAL, by Michael F. Roizen and Mehmet C. Oz (HarperResource) 8 RICH DAD, POOR DAD, by Robert T. Kiyosaki with Sharon L. Lechter (Warner) 10 BIRD SONGS, by Les Beletsky (Chronicle) 9 REDNECK DICTIONARY, by Jeff Foxworthy et al. (Ballantine)

WHY WE WANT YOU TO BE RICH, by Donald J. Trump, Robert T. 11 10 WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTING, by Heidi Murkoff, Kiyosaki, Meredith McIver, and Sharon Lechter (Rich) Arlene Eisenberg, and Sandee Hathaway (Workman)

12 CESAR’S WAY, by Cesar Millan with Melissa Jo Peltier 11 THE FOUR AGREEMENTS, by Don Miguel Ruiz (Amber-Allen) (Harmony) 12 30-MINUTE GET REAL MEALS, by Rachael Ray(Clarkson Potter) 13 REDNECK DICTIONARY II, by Jeff Foxworthy (Villard) 13 EXPRESS LANE MEALS, by Rachael Ray (Clarkson Potter)

CLASSIC 30-MINUTE MEALS, by Rachael Ray (Lake Isle) 14 14 BAD CAT, by Jim Edgar (Workman)

15 THE INTELLECTUAL DEVOTIONAL, by David S. Kidder and Noah 15 THE BIGGEST LOSER COOKBOOK, by Devin Alexander et al. D. Oppenheim (Rodale) (Rodale)

Rankings reflect sales, for the week ended December 9, at almost 4,000 bookstores plus wholesalers serving 60,000 other retailers (gift shops, department stores, news- stands, supermarkets), statistically weighted to represent all such outlets nationwide. An asterisk (*) indicates that a book’s sales are barely distinguishable from those of the book above. A dagger (†) indicates that some bookstores report receiving bulk orders. Expanded rankings are available at The New York Times on the Web: nytimes.com/books. Copyright © 2006 by December 24, 2006 The New York Times THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW Children’s Best Sellers

This Last Weeks This Last Weeks Week PICTURE BOOKS Week On List Week CHAPTER BOOKS Week On List

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, by Clement C. 15 ELDEST, by Christopher Paolini. (Knopf, $21.) Er- 168 1 Moore. Various illustrators. (Various publishers.) 1 agon in the land of elves; Book 2 in the Inheritance Not a creature was stirring: various editions of the trilogy. (Ages 12 and up) classic holiday poem. (All ages) ERAGON, by Christopher Paolini. (Knopf, $18.95.) A 290 MERRY CHRISTMAS, CURIOUS GEORGE, by Cathy 24 2 boy and a young dragon must navigate a bewildering 2 Hapka. Illustrated by Mary O’Keefe Young. world of dark powers. (Ages 12 and up) (Houghton Mifflin, $16.) George decorates the tree at a children’s hospital. (Ages 4 to 8) MIRACLE ON 49TH STREET, by Mike Lupica. 37 3 (Philomel, $17.99.) A basketball star meets a 12-year- FANCY NANCY, by Jane O’Connor. Illustrated by 549 old girl who says she’s his daughter. (Ages 9 to 12) 3 Robin Preiss Glasser. (HarperCollins, $15.99.) A glamour girl takes her family out. (Ages 4 to 7) THE MIRACULOUS JOURNEY OF EDWARD TULANE, 537 4 by Kate DiCamillo. Illustrated by Bagram Iba- OUR 50 STATES, by Lynne Cheney. Illustrated by 37 toulline. (Candlewick, $18.99.) A rabbit made of china 4 Robin Preiss Glasser. (Simon & Schuster, $17.95.) A learns about love and loss. (Ages 8 to 12) family adventure across America. (All ages) NEW MOON, by Stephenie Meyer. (Megan Tingley/ 418 OWEN AND MZEE, by Isabella and Craig Hatkoff 35 5 Little, Brown, $17.99.) A human and a vampire contin- 5 with Paula Kahumbu. Photographs by Peter Greste. ue their dangerous love affair; a sequel to ‘‘Twilight.’’ (Scholastic, $16.99.) A baby hippo and a 130-year-old (Ages 12 and up) tortoise become friends; a true story. (Ages 4 to 8) THE BOOK THIEF, by Markus Zusak. (Knopf, $16.95.) 735 ON THE NIGHT YOU WERE BORN, written and illus- 62 6 A girl saves books from Nazi book-burnings and 6 trated by Nancy Tillman. (Feiwel & Friends, $16.95.) shares them with a Jewish man. (Ages 14 and up) Bears dance, the moon smiles: the entire universe celebrates the birth of a baby. (Ages 5 to 8) SPECIALS, by Scott Westerfeld. (Simon Pulse, 6 7 $15.95.) In a futuristic world, a girl has been pro- SANTA CLAUS, by Rod Green. Illustrated by Jon Lu- 44 grammed to keep the social order. (Ages 14 and up) 7 cas et al. (Atheneum, $19.95.) A fold-out, lift-the- flap, open-the-envelope almanac of Santa facts. (All PETER & THE SHADOW THIEVES, by Dave Barry 823 ages) 8 and Ridley Pearson. (Disney, $18.99.) Peter and Tin- ker Bell go to London to rescue a friend’s mother; a MOMMY? by Maurice Sendak, Arthur Yorinks and 10 12 sequel to “Peter and the Starcatchers.” (Ages 10 and 8 Matthew Reinhart. (Michael di Capua/Scholastic, up) $24.95.) A boy looks for his mother in a pop-up house of horrors. (All ages) COOKING ROCKS! 30-MINUTE MEALS FOR KIDS, 611 9 by Rachael Ray. Illustrated by Chris Kalb. (Lake Isle CHRISTMAS, by Robert Sabuda. (Orchard, $12.99.) 94 Press, $16.95.) Simple recipes for the beginner from 9 Holiday pop-ups, adapted from Sabuda’s “Christmas the celebrated TV chef. (Ages 4 to 16) Alphabet.” (All ages) FAIREST, by Gail Carson Levine. (HarperCollins, 9 FLOTSAM, illustrated by David Wiesner. (Clarion, 8 10 $16.99.) A fantasy novel about a plain girl with a beau- 10 $17.) The things that wash up on the beach: a story in tiful voice who learns that some things are more im- pictures. (Ages 4 to 7) portant than looks. (Ages 8 to 14)

Rankings reflect sales, for the week ended December 9, at almost 4,000 bookstores plus wholesalers serving 50,000 other retailers (gift shops, department stores, news- stands, supermarkets), statistically weighted to represent all such outlets nationwide. An asterisk (*) indicates that a book’s sales are barely distinguishable from those of the book above. A dagger (†) indicates that some bookstores report receiving bulk orders. Expanded rankings are available at The New York Times on the Web: nytimes.com/books. Copyright © 2006 by December 24, 2006 The New York Times THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW Children’s Best Sellers

This Last Weeks This Last Weeks Week PAPERBACK BOOKS Week On List Week SERIES Week On List

ERAGON, by Christopher Paolini. (Knopf, $9.95.) A 185 A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS, by Lemony 1114 1 boy and a young dragon must navigate a bewildering 1 Snicket. (HarperCollins, hardcover only.) The chroni- world of dark powers. (Ages 12 and up) cles of the poor Baudelaire siblings. (Ages 10 and up)

TWILIGHT, by Stephenie Meyer. (Megan Tingley/Lit- 317 OLOGIES, by Dugald A. Steer. Various illustrators. 264 2 tle, Brown, $8.99.) The new girl in town falls in love 2 (Candlewick, hardcover only.) Assorted facts about with a vampire. (Ages 12 and up) dragons, wizards and other phantasms. (Ages 9 to 12)

CHARLOTTE’S WEB, by E. B. White. (HarperCollins, 1 MAGIC TREE HOUSE, by Mary Pope Osborne. Illus- 3115 3 $7.99.) A spider saves her friend Wilbur, who is Some 3 trated by Sal Murdocca. (Stepping Stone/Random Pig; a movie tie-in edition of the classic story. (Ages 8 House, hardcover and paperback.) Children travel to and up) the past in a spinning tree house. (Ages 6 to 9)

INKHEART, by Cornelia Funke. (Scholastic, $7.99.) 642 ARTEMIS FOWL, by Eoin Colfer. (Miramax/ 485 4 An evil character escapes from the book a girl is 4 Hyperion, hardcover and paperback.) Adventures of reading and turns up in her house. (Ages 10 and up) a magical criminal mastermind. (Ages 8 and up)

RECKLESS, by Cecily von Ziegesar. (Little, Brown, 27 HARRY POTTER, by J. K. Rowling. (Levine/Scholas- 6115 5 $9.99.) Mean girls, boy trouble and other social studies at 5 tic, hardcover and paperback.) A boy wizard hones his Waverly Academy; an “It Girl” novel. (Ages 14 and up) skills and battles evil at Hogwarts. (Ages 10 and up)

WOULD I LIE TO YOU, by Cecily von Ziegesar. (Lit- 913 CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS, by Dav Pilkey. (Scholastic, 717 6 tle, Brown, $10.99.) In the Hamptons with the Gossip 6 hardcover and paperback.) Two boys and their grumpy Girls. (Ages 14 and up) principal fight evil together. (Ages 7 to 10)

SECRETS OF THE ALCHEMIST DAR, written and il- 10 6 JUNIE B., FIRST GRADER, by Barbara Park. Illus- 5115 7 lustrated by Michael Stadther. (Treasure Trove, 7 trated by Denise Brunkus. (Stepping Stone/Random $21.99.) In a mythical forest, a battle of good and evil House, hardcover and paperback.) It’s a whole new contains clues to a real-life treasure hunt. (All ages) school year for Junie B. Jones. (Ages 4 to 8)

PRETTIES, by Scott Westerfeld. (Simon Pulse, $7.99.) 1 WALTER THE FARTING DOG, by William Kotzwinkle, 816 8 In a dystopian society, a girl has surgery to become a 8 Glenn Murray and Elizabeth Gundy. Illustrated by privileged Pretty, then struggles to regain her intelli- Audrey Colman. (Frog Ltd./Dutton, hardcover.) The gence; second in a series. (Ages 12 and up) trials and triumphs of a flatulent mutt. (Ages 4 to 8)

DIAL L FOR LOSER, by Lisi Harrison. (Little, Brown, 719 DON’T LET THE PIGEON..., written and illustrated by 911 9 $9.99.) Massie and her friends head to Hollywood to au- 9 Mo Willems. (Hyperion, hardcover only.) Children tell dition for a movie; a “Clique” novel. (Ages 14 and up) a spirited bird what he’s not allowed to do. (Ages 2 to 6)

HOOT, by Carl Hiaasen. (Knopf, $8.95.) Trying to solve 4 132 SKIPPYJON JONES, written and illustrated by Judy 1 10 a mystery, a boy encounters bizarre animals and even 10 Schachner. (Dutton/Puffin, hardcover and paperback.) stranger people in Florida. (Ages 10 and up) A Siamese kitten unlooses his imagination. (Ages 2 to 6)

THE AENEID, by Virgil. Translated by Robert SIX FRIGATES: The Epic History of the Found- KHRUSHCHEV’S COLD WAR: The Inside Story Fagles. (Viking, $40.) The capacious lines in this ing of the U.S. Navy, by Ian W. Toll. (Norton, of an American Adversary, by Aleksandr new interpretation are well suited to the narra- $27.95.) Stirring depictions of battles and heroes. Fursenko and Timothy Naftali. (Norton, $35.) The tive ebb and flow of Aeneas’ journey from Troy. most dangerous years of the Soviet-American IMPERIAL LIFE IN THE EMERALD CITY: Inside standoff as strategized from inside the Kremlin. WAR MADE NEW: Technology, Warfare, and the Iraq’s Green Zone, by Rajiv Chandrasekaran. Course of History, 1500 to Today, by Max Boot. (Knopf, $25.95.) The author, a Washington Post DANGEROUS NATION, by Robert Kagan. (Gotham, $35.) In tracing military evolution over journalist, catalogs the arrogance and ineptitude (Knopf, $30.) This first of two volumes on the the centuries, Boot argues that even the smartest, that marked America’s governance of Iraq. United States as an international power chal- most powerful war machines have limits. lenges the myth of America’s innocent beginnings. EVERYDAY LIFE, by Lydie Salvayre. (Dalkey THE OCCUPATION, by Patrick Cockburn. (Ver- Archive, paper, $12.50.) A novel of office paranoia A SHAMEFUL ACT: The Armenian Genocide and so, $24.95.) A wealth of telling detail illustrates that begins with the hiring of a potential rival. the Question of Turkish Responsibility, by Taner how poorly Iraq is understood by its occupiers. Akcam. (Metropolitan/Holt, $30.) New insights on WILLIAM JAMES: In the Maelstrom of Ameri- the Ottoman effort to erase Turkish Armenians. HOW TO READ A NOVEL: A User’s Guide, by can Modernism. A Biography, by Robert D. John Sutherland. (St. Martin’s, $21.95.) Clearing Richardson. (Houghton Mifflin, $30.) For this The full reviews of these and other recent books a path through the ever denser thicket of fiction. original mind, philosophy and life were as one. are on the Web: nytimes.com/books.

Paperback Row

MIRROR TO AMERICA: The Autobiography of PRESIDENT REAGAN: The Triumph of Imagina- of three key figures of the French Revolution — John Hope Franklin. (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, tion, by Richard Reeves. (Simon & Schuster, $16.) Maximilien Robespierre, Georges-Jacques Dan- $15.) Raised in an era of stifling race prejudice and Reeves brings a biographical technique that he has ton and Camille Desmoulins. legal segregation, Franklin, a pioneering historian honed in two previous books — on John F. Kennedy and the author of ‘‘From Slavery to Freedom,’’ has and Richard M. Nixon — to this portrait of Ronald VIRGINIA WOOLF: An Inner Life, by Julia Briggs. spent his career changing the way Americans view Reagan. Reconstructing ‘‘a president’s world from (Harvest/Harcourt, $16.) Avoiding the gossip sur- their past. Now 91, he recalls every aspect of his life his own perspective,’’ the book gives readers rounding Virginia Woolf’s social life, this intelligent in this remarkable book. Born in an all-black Okla- minutely detailed accounts of the critical moments biography focuses on Woolf’s creative process — homa town, Franklin helped shape the NAACP Le- of Reagan’s presidency. Reagan emerges here not her fascination with the workings of the inner mind gal Defense Fund’s brief in Brown v. Board of Edu- as an unwitting tool but as a master of both imagi- and her ability to translate thought and feeling into cation; trained a legion of graduate students at the nation and delegation. ‘‘Anybody who is interested words. Briggs, a professor of English in Leicester, University of Chicago and later at Duke University; in Reagan’s extraordinary presidency needs to England, devotes each of 14 chapters to one of and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in reckon with Reeves,’’ Adrian Wooldridge wrote Woolf’s books, beginning with “The Voyage Out” 1995. Our reviewer, David Oshinsky, called ‘‘Mirror here. (1915), and concluding with “Between the Acts,” to America’’ a ‘‘riveting and bitterly candid mem- published posthumously in 1941. oir.’’ CEREMONY, by Leslie Marmon Silko. (Penguin, $15.) Originally published 30 years ago, Silko’s INFINITE JEST, by David Foster Wallace. (Back WAR AND PEACE, by Leo Tolstoy. Translated by haunting first novel revolves around an American Bay/Little, Brown, $10.) With its baroque subplots Anthony Briggs. (Penguin, $18.) This is the first Indian veteran, Tayo, who returns to the South- and zany political satire, Wallace’s gargantuan new English translation of Tolstoy’s sprawling west after World War II seeking to exorcise the second novel conjures a toxic, futuristic America saga about Russian society during the Napoleonic ghosts of his past. ‘‘ ‘Ceremony’ is a novel whose obsessed with entertainment and self-gratifica- Wars in 40 years. In an introduction Orlando Figes unsettling story has lost none of its force,’’ Larry tion. This 10th anniversary edition includes a new praised the novel’s ‘‘immense panorama of hu- McMurtry writes in a new introduction to the foreword by Dave Eggers. manity’’: ‘‘Like all great works of art, Tolstoy’s book. masterpiece has the capacity, on each successive DANCE WRITINGS, by Edwin Denby. Edited by reading, to transform our understanding of the ALEXANDER II: The Last Great Tsar, by Ed- Robert Cornfield and William MacKay. (Universi- world.’’ vard Radzinsky. Translated by Antonina W. ty Press of Florida, $29.95.) Denby (1903-83) has Bouis. (Free Press, $17.) Nimbly translated, this been hailed as the ‘‘father of dance criticism in ACCIDENTAL GENIUS: How John Cassavetes In- lively study of the reformist Russian czar (1818- America.’’ This volume, first published in 1986 vented American Independent Film, by Marshall 81) who freed 23 million serfs includes all the and available again next month, presents his re- Fine. (Miramax/Hyperion, $18.95.) John Cas- spectacle and shifting alliances that once domi- views from 1936 through 1945, and essays on semi- savetes, who died in 1989 at 59, remains one of the nated the court of St. Petersburg. nal figures, including George Balanchine, Martha dominant models for personal filmmaking, with Graham and Frederick Ashton. movies like ‘‘Shadows’’ (1959) and ‘‘A Woman Un- A PLACE OF GREATER SAFETY, by Hilary Man- IHSAN TAYLOR der the Influence’’ (1974). Fine, an avowed devotee, tel. (Picador, $16.) Mantel, a British novelist and looks at each of Cassavetes’s projects, his uncon- the author of an acclaimed memoir, ‘‘Giving Up ventional directing methods and his struggles to fi- the Ghost,’’ made her American debut in 1993 nance and distribute his movies. with this historical novel, which follows the fates