BESTSELLERS

*--* SO. CAL. RATING Fiction

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*--* 1 The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd (Penguin: $14) A teenage girl is haunted by her mother’s death

2 Life of Pi by Yann Martel (Harvest Books: $14) An Indian boy shares a lifeboat with a tiger on a harrowing trip

3 The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith (Anchor: $11.95) Botswana’s female private eye

4 Angels & Demons by Dan Brown (Pocket Books: $7.99) A Harvard scholar uncovers a vendetta against the Catholic Church

5 Three Junes by Julia Glass (Anchor: $14) A Scottish family comes together over three summers

6 Blessings by Anna Quindlen (Anchor: $15) A foundling left at a reclusive woman’s estate upsets the lives of all around her

7 Chasing the Dime by Michael Connelly (Warner: $7.99) A brilliant but lonely chemist tries to find a missing prostitute

8 The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason (Vintage: $14) A British surgeon-soldier brokers peace with local warlords in 1886 Burma

9 Imitations in Death by J.D. Robb (Berkley: $7.99) Detective Eve Dallas trails a serial killer in New York City

10 In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner (Washington Square Press: $14) Two sisters sort through childhood baggage

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*--* SO. CAL. RATING Nonfiction

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*--* 1 Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand (Ballantine: $15.95) How an also-ran thoroughbred became America’s favorite racehorse

2 Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution by Robert C. Atkins (Quill: $13.95) Shedding pounds with a low-carb diet

3 Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki with Sharon L. Lechter (Techpress: $15.95) Fiscal parenting

4 Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs (Picador: $14) A boy goes to live with his mother’s psychiatrist

5 What Not to Wear by Trinny Woodall (Riverhead: $15) Straight talk on dressing for your shape and personality

6 It’s Not About the Bike by Lance Armstrong (Berkley: $13) A world-class cyclist beats cancer and returns to racing

7 Longitudes and Attitudes by Thomas L. Friedman (Anchor: $14.95) Reflections on Sept. 11

8 Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser (HarperCollins: $13.95) The unappetizing practices of the junk-food industry

9 One More Time by Carol Burnett (Random House: $14.95) The actress-comedian recounts her life and work

10 Except for One Little Problem by Joan Denson (Barricade: $14.95) A memoir of coping with homosexuality

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