Hardcover Fiction Based on sales from independent bookstores across America. For the Book Sense store nearest you, call 1-888-BOOKSENSE Independent Bookstores for Independent Minds Bestseller List for August 14, 2000 from sales the week ending August 6 Online at www.bookweb.org Thursday, August 10 Published in Bookselling This Week Monday, August 14   HARDCOVER FICTION last week / # of weeks 1 Winter Solstice - 1st Week On List Rosamunde Pilcher, 0312244266, St. Martin's, 27.95 A tale of tragedy and renewal by the bestelling author of The Shell Seekers and September. -/1 2 Purple Cane Road - 1st Week On List James Lee Burke, 0385488440, Bantam, 24.95 The latest in the increasingly fascinating Dave Robicheaux series. -/1 3 Nora, Nora Anne River Siddons, 006017613X, HarperCollins, 25.00 A Southern girl's life is revitalized when her high-spirited cousin comes to visit in the early 1960s. 1/3 4 The River King Alice Hoffman, 0399145990, Putnam, 23.95 A small Massachusetts town, divided for generations between villagers and those who attend the prestigious boarding school, is brought together by death in this haunting novel. 3/3 5 White Teeth Zadie Smith, 0375501851, Random House, 24.95 The story of two North London families -- one British, one Bengali -- the patriarchs of which have been best friends since WWII. Hilarious and moving, this is an epic debut by a brilliant young writer. 7/15 6 Friendship Cake Lynne Hinton, 0688171478, Harper San Francisco, 20.00 A charming novel about friendship and cooking, with recipes included; the number one 'Book Sense 76' Pick for July/August. 13/5 7 Anil's Ghost Michael Ondaatje, 0375410538, Knopf, 25.00 A poetic, richly imagined novel set in Sri Lanka, about a young female forensic anthropologist sent by a human rights agency to help uncover a series of murders. 4/15 8 Girl With A Pearl Earring Tracy Chevalier, 052594527X, Dutton, 21.95 A wonderful historical fiction built around Vermeer's household, and the relationship between the artist and a young servant woman. 8/31 9 Julie and Romeo Jeanne Ray, 0609606727, Harmony, 21.00 Love blooms between two rival florists in Boston even as their families, enemies for generations, try to stop it. A Top Ten 'Book Sense 76' Pick. 2/7 10 Omerta Mario Puzo, 0375502548, Random House, 25.95 The third and final book in Mario Puzo's "Mafia" trilogy. 6/5 11 Hot Six Janet Evanovich, 0312205406, St. Martin's, 24.95 5/7 12 Bee Season Myla Goldberg, 0385498799, Doubleday, 22.95 9/10 13 Open House Elizabeth Berg, 0375501002, Random House, 23.95 15/4 14 Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates Tom Robbins, 0553107755, Bantam, 27.50 11/14 15 The House on Hope Street Danielle Steel, 0385333064, Delacorte, 19.95 10/5   ON THE RISE   28 Drowning Ruth Christina Schwarz, 038549971X, Doubleday, 23.95 An original and achingly believable family drama. A 'Book Sense 76' Pick.   The Book Sense Bestseller List is copyrighted and cannot be reprinted without permission from the American Booksellers Association. For information, please contact Michael Hoynes, Marketing Officer, at: (914) 591-2665 ext. 1204, 828 Broadway, Tarrytown NY. Reprint Guidelines.