A Monitor guide to the bestsellers

1. Leap of Faith

Last Week: 3

Weeks on List: 3

by Queen Noor

Miramax Books, $25.95

Lisa Halaby was among the first women admitted to Princeton, but it is her marriage to King Hussein of Jordan in 1978 that distinguishes her life. Noor's memoir describes her transformation from shy American to confident queen, a partner in her husband's efforts to modernize Jordan, heal rifts between Arab states, and bring peace to the Middle East. Her book blends the historical and fairy-tale elements of the royal couple's journey together, which lasted for two decades until Hussein's death in 1999. (467 pp.) By Kim Campbell

The Christian Science Monitor: Favorable review

The New York Times: Favorable review

USA Today: Mixed review

2. Stupid White Men

Last Week: 1

Weeks on List: 69

by Michael Moore

Regan Books, $24.95

Filmmaker and activist Michael Moore is no fan of George W. Bush. But the "stolen" election of 2000 is just one of the targets in his latest book, which also includes essays on why real men are facing extinction and the "truth" about recycling. Moore offers plenty of suggestions for how Americans can get off the couch and make a difference. But his assessment of the state of the nation suffers for its lack of reference to the events of Sept. 11, which happened after the book was written. (304 pp.) By Kim Campbell

The Christian Science Monitor: Mixed review

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Unfavorable review

3. Jarhead

Last Week: 2

Weeks on List: 6

by Anthony Swofford

Scribner, $24

Just in time for America's encore in Iraq, Marine Corps sniper Swofford offers a boot's-eye view of the last Gulf war, stripped of any romance or glory. During his time as a 20-year-old "jarhead," Swofford and his platoon mates became trapped in a long, boring purgatory between home and war, while dodging friendly fire. He portrays his fellow soldiers, barely out of high school, as foul-mouthed and girl-crazy. They may be trained killers and tough talkers, but they're mostly lonely kids. ( Reviewed March 20 ) (272 pp.) By Seth Stern

The Christian Science Monitor: Favorable review

The New York Times: Favorable review

Kirkus Review of Books: Favorable review

Los Angeles Times: Favorable review

4. The Devil in the White City

Last Week: 4

Weeks on List: 8

by Erik Larson

Crown, $25.95

Larson has a genius for turning all-but-forgotten bits of history into narratives as engrossing as any novel. Here, he twins the construction of Chicago's 1893 World's Fair with the tale of a serial killer, H.H. Holmes, who turned the festivities into his hunting ground. Architect Dan Burnham had to overcome everything from his partner's untimely death to a flood to create the White City, an idealistic vision of the 20th century. The tale of the fair's construction is even more suspenseful than the murder mystery. (416 pp.) By Yvonne Zipp

The Christian Science Monitor: Favorable review

The New York Times: Favorable review

Kirkus Review of Books: Favorable review

Boston Globe: Mixed review

5. Reading Lolita in Tehran

Weeks on List: 1

by Azar Nafisi

Random House, $23.95

Tired of fighting a repressive administration and government, Nafisi assembled a private class for seven of her best female students in Iran to talk about forbidden works of Western literature. Incredibly, the controversial "Lolita" resonated most powerfully. Like its main character, her students felt themselves "the figment of someone else's dreams," those of an ayatollah who sought to "re-create" women in the image of an illusory past. A passionate, astute defense of the value of literature. ( Reviewed March 27 ) (347 pp.) By Heather Hewett

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