Top 10 2004 Holiday Gift Books

1. A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg

A heart-warming Christmas tale of faith and wonder from New York Times bestselling author of "Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe."

2. The Da Vinci Code: Special Illustrated Edition by Dan Brown

On the bestseller lists for the past one million weeks running, The Da Vinci Code just got better.

3. The Future Dictionary of America

Conceived as a dictionary of the future when we can all look back and laugh at our current national ills and political divisiveness. Over 150 writers contributed to The Future Dictionary of America, including Stephen King, Robert Olen Butler, Glen David Gold, Richard Powers, Susan Straight, Sarah Vowell, Billy Collins, C.K. Williams, Colson Whitehead, Donald Antrim, Jonathan Franzen, Edwidge Danticat, Edward Hirsch, Joyce Carol Oates...

4. His Excellency : George Washington by Joseph J. Ellis

A biography of one of the most important and complex figures in American History, written by the "most widely read scholar of the Revolutionary period."

5. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke

Clarke infuses magic into 19th century London in this darkly engrossing aternative history that follows the adventures of two gentleman magicians.

6. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

The first Afghan novel to be written in English, The Kite Runner tells the story of friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father's servant, while simultaneously telling the story of Afghanistan.

7. The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst

In "The Line of Beauty," winner of the 2004 Booker Prize, Hollinghurst's gay antihero, Nick Guest, finds his life dramatically altered when he takes up residence with conservative Parliament member, Gerald Feddens, his wealthy wife and two children.

8. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

Winner of the Caldecott Medal in 1986, Chris Van Allsburg's magical tale of a child being swept away on a journey to the North Pole is a tale for children of all generations. It is also bound to be one of the biggest animated feature films this season.

9. State of Fear by Michael Crichton

Page-turning suspense from the master. A intelligent international thriller that makes the reader think twice about the power of information.

10. The Stupidest Angel

It is the return of America's favorite chronicler of absurdity, Christopher Moore, with shovel-wielding murderesses, stoned officers of the law, one half-witted agent of The Lord, a flock of undead zombies fed up with the living, and oh, don't forget the illustrious reemergence of Roberto The Fruit Bat.