TheBestseller
Observatory

Best Sellers

Hardcover Fiction

Week of June 29, 2003

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THE DA VINCI CODE
Dan Brown
Cover of THE DA VINCI CODE

THE DA VINCI CODE

by Dan Brown · Doubleday

13 wks on list

THE #1 WORLDWIDE BESTSELLING PHENOMENON, WITH MORE THAN 85 MILLION COPIES SOLD “Blockbuster perfection . . . a gleefully erudite suspense novel.” —The New York Times “A pulse-quickening, brain-teasing adventure.” —People While in Paris, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is awakened by a phone call in the dead of the night. The elderly curator of the Louvre has been murdered inside the museum, his body covered in baffling symbols. As Langdon and gifted French cryptologist Sophie Neveu sort through the bizarre riddles, they are stunned to discover a trail of clues hidden in the works of Leonardo da Vinci—clues visible for all to see and yet ingeniously disguised by the painter. Even more startling, the late curator was involved in the Priory of Sion, a secret society whose members included Sir Isaac Newton, Victor Hugo, and Da Vinci, and he guarded a breathtaking historical secret. Unless Langdon and Neveu can decipher the labyrinthine puzzle—while avoiding the faceless adversary who shadows their every move—the explosive, ancient truth will be lost forever. Robert Langdon returns in The Lost Symbol, Inferno, Origin, and The Secret of Secrets (coming soon)!

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THE KING OF TORTS
John Grisham
Cover of THE KING OF TORTS

THE KING OF TORTS

by John Grisham · Doubleday

19 wks on list

A case against one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world and a settlement that would change his life, may make Clay Carter the newest king of torts.

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THE FACE
Dean Koontz
Cover of THE FACE

THE FACE

by Dean Koontz · Bantam

3 wks on list

When a Hollywood star becomes the target of a twisted killer, ex-cop Ethan Truman confronts the secrets of his tragic past and premonitions of his own impending violent death as he struggles to solve the macabre riddles of a killer.

5
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NAKED PREY
John Sandford
Cover of NAKED PREY

NAKED PREY

by John Sandford · Putnam

5 wks on list

The past presents a harrowing case and an unsettling dilemma for Lucas Davenport in a spellbinding new "Prey". Abridged.

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THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA
Lauren Weisberger
Cover of THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA

by Lauren Weisberger · Doubleday

9 wks on list

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • THE INSPIRATION FOR THE HIT MOVIE STARRING MERYL STREEP AND ANNE HATHAWAY • DON’T MISS THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2, COMING SOON TO THEATERS! “The degree to which The Devil Wears Prada has penetrated pop culture needs no explanation.”—Vanity Fair A gloriously wicked story about the ultimate Boss from Hell and the deals we make with the devil to get to the top Andrea Sachs, a small-town girl fresh out of college, lands the job “a million girls would die for.” Hired as the assistant to Miranda Priestly, the high-profile, fabulously successful editor of Runway magazine, Andrea finds herself in an office that shouts Prada! Armani! Versace! at every turn, a world populated by impossibly thin, heart-wrenchingly stylish women and beautiful men clad in fine-ribbed turtlenecks and tight leather pants that show off their lifelong dedication to the gym. With breathtaking ease, Miranda can turn each and every one of these hip sophisticates into a scared, whimpering child. Andrea is sorely tested each and every day—and often late into the night—with orders barked over the phone. She puts up with it all by keeping her eyes on the prize: a recommendation from Miranda that will get her a top job at any magazine of her choosing. As things escalate from the merely unacceptable to the downright outrageous, Andrea begins to realize that the job a million girls would die for may just kill her. And even if she survives, she has to decide whether or not it’s worth the price of her soul.

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THE LOVELY BONES
Alice Sebold
Cover of THE LOVELY BONES

THE LOVELY BONES

by Alice Sebold · Little, Brown

51 wks on list

Susie Salmon is just like any other young American girl. She wants to be beautiful, adores her charm bracelet and has a crush on a boy from school. There's one big difference though – Susie is dead. Add: Now she can only observe while her family manage their grief in their different ways. Susie is desperate to help them and there might be a way of reaching them... Alice Sebold's novel The Lovely Bones is a unique coming-of-age tale that captured the hearts of readers throughout the world. Award-winning playwright Bryony Lavery has adapted it for this unforgettable play about life after loss.

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THE GUARDIAN
Nicholas Sparks
Cover of THE GUARDIAN

THE GUARDIAN

by Nicholas Sparks · Warner

10 wks on list

After her husband's death, a young widow with a faithful Great Dane must decide between two men -- but as new love blossoms, jealousy turns deadly in this suspenseful New York Times bestseller. Julie Barenson's young husband left her two unexpected gifts before he died - a Great Dane puppy named Singer and the promise that he would always be watching over her. Now four years have passed. Still living in the small town of Swansboro, North Carolina, twenty-nine-year-old Julie is emotionally ready to make a commitment to someone again. But who? Should it be Richard Franklin, the handsome, sophisticated engineer who treats her like a queen? Or Mike Harris, the down-to-earth nice guy who was her husband's best friend? Choosing one of them should bring her more happiness than she's had in years. Instead, Julie is soon fighting for her life in a nightmare spawned by a chilling deception and jealousy so poisonous that it has become a murderous desire...

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NEW
GETTYSBURG
Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen
Cover of GETTYSBURG

GETTYSBURG

by Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen · Thomas Dunne/St. Martin's

1 wks on list

The New York Times–bestselling Civil War novel: a "well-executed alternative history [that] imagines a Confederate victory at Gettysburg" ( Publishes Weekly). An action-packed and painstakingly researched novel by former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and historical fiction author William R. Forstchen, Gettysburg stands as the first book in a series to tell the story of how a victory for Confederate General Robert E. Lee would have changed the destiny of the nation forever. The year is 1863, and General Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia are poised to attack the North. Launching his men into a sweeping operation, Lee audaciously pursues his last best chance for ultimate victory. With renewed spirit, Lee's lieutenants embark on the Gettysburg Campaign that many dream "should have been." The soldiers in the line, Yank and Reb, knew as well that this would be the great challenge, the decisive moment that would decide whether a nation would die, or be created. Both sides were ready, willing to lay down their lives for their Cause.

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THE TRAVELER'S GIFT
Andy Andrews
Cover of THE TRAVELER'S GIFT

THE TRAVELER'S GIFT

by Andy Andrews · Thomas Nelson

4 wks on list

A New York Times bestseller with over 1.3 million copies sold! Only a few months ago, he was a successful executive. Now he’s a desperate man. Join David Ponder on an incredible journey to discover the Seven Decisions for success that can turn any life around, no matter how hopeless a situation seems. Forty-six-year-old David Ponder feels like a total failure. Once a high-flying executive in a Fortune 500 company, he now works a part-time, minimum wage job and struggles to support his family. Suddenly an even greater crisis hits: his daughter becomes ill, and he can’t even afford to get her the medical help she needs. When David’s car skids on an icy road, he wonders if he even cares to survive the crash. But an extraordinary experience awaits David Ponder. He suddenly finds himself traveling back in time, meeting leaders and heroes at crucial moments in their lives—from Abraham Lincoln to Anne Frank. As David speaks with each of these historical figures, they share their personal philosophies with him. By the time his journey is over, he has received seven secrets for success—and a second chance. Among these crucial decisions for success are: The buck stops here, and I am responsible for my past and my future I will seek wisdom and be a servant to others I will greet this day with a forgiving spirit, and I will forgive myself Today I will choose to be happy and be the possessor of a grateful spirit The message is simple: Life is about choices. While we have little control over the events that occur in our lives, success is determined by the choices we make daily. The Traveler’s Gift will challenge you, inspire you, and give you seven decisions that you can employ to determine your own personal success. Acclaim for The Traveler’s Gift: Good Morning America’s “Read This!” book selection for May 2003 Hit the New York Times bestseller list and remained there for 17 weeks Reached #5 on the New York Times Business Bestseller list Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Publisher’s Weekly bestseller Translated into nearly 20 languages, including Braille

Historical bestseller data sourced from the New York Times Book Review, archived by Hawes Publications.