BESTSELLERS

*--* SO. CAL. RATING Fiction LAST WEEK WEEKS ON LIST 1 The Sea by John Banville 2 2 (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.

2 Christ the Lord by Anne 1 2 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.

3 A Feast for Crows by -- 1 George R.R. Martin (Spectra: $28) The latest installment in the “Song of Ice and Fire� series has a kingdom weary from war facing new destruction.

4 Memories of My Melancholy 4 3 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 5 3 Baldacci (Warner Books: $26.95) Conspiracy theorists who witness the murder of a Secret Service agent are plunged into a real conspiracy.

6 Ordinary Heroes by Scott 14 2 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.

7 Predator by Patricia 7 3 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 Light From Heaven by Jan -- 1 Karon (Viking: $26.95) Father Tim hopes to revive a small mountain church in this last installment of the Mitford Years series.

9 On Beauty by Zadie Smith 10 9 (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.�

10 Snow Flower and the Secret 8 17 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.

11 The Lincoln Lawyer by 13 6 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.

12 The March by E.L. Doctorow 9 8 (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.

13 Cover Your Assets by -- 1 Patricia Smiley (Mysterious Press: $23.95) The widow of a murdered film agent hopes her onetime rival will help clear her name.

14 Saving Fish From Drowning 3 4 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.

15 Son of a Witch by Gregory -- 5 Maguire (ReganBooks: $26.95) An orphan armed with the wicked witch’s magic broom and black cape searches the Emerald City for a girl who may be his half sister.

*--*

*--* SO. CAL. RATING Nonfiction LAST WEEK WEEKS ON LIST 1 The Year of Magical 1 7 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 3 Kearns Goodwin (Simon & Schuster: $35) How Abraham Lincoln, former one-term congressman, used his political savvy to bring powerful rivals into his Cabinet.

3 700 Sundays by Billy 6 2 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.

4 Healthy Aging by Andrew 4 4 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 Truth (With Jokes) by 3 4 Al Franken (Dutton: $25.95) The comedian rebuts claims and points out flip-flops made by the Bush administration and conservative pundits.

6 Our Endangered Values by 7 2 Jimmy Carter (Simon & Schuster: $25) The former president writes of his concern about the rise in Christian fundamentalism and its influence in politics.

7 The World Is Flat by 5 31 Thomas L. Friedman (Farrar, Straus & Giroux: $27.50) How technology and the forces of globalization are connecting -- and changing -- the world.

8 California: A History by -- 4 Kevin Starr (Modern Library: $24.95) The former state librarian shows the Golden State’s evolution from pre-Columbian times to the present.

9 Natural Cures “They� Don’t 9 21 Want You to Know About by Kevin Trudeau (Alliance Publishing: $29.95) The infomercial mogul touts alternative therapies and supplements.

10 A Man Without a Country by -- 9 Kurt Vonnegut (Seven Stories Press: $23.95) A collection of recent articles focuses on personal foibles and skewers those in power.

11 Between You and Me by Mike 10 2 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.

12 The Elements of Style 15 2 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.

13 Lennon Revealed by Larry -- 1 Kane (Running Press: $29.95) The onetime radio reporter presents a portrait of the late Beatle via personal recollection and interviews with those close to John Lennon.

14 Blink by Malcolm Gladwell 11 42 (Little, Brown: $25.95) An exploration of the workings of the human mind and perceptions and whether we can really trust our first instincts.

15 A Family of Poems edited -- 2 by Caroline Kennedy (Hyperion: $19.95) The former first daughter presents the Kennedy family’s favorite poems for children, illustrated by Jon J. Muth.

*--*