We don't know if it's the long nights or the stark landscape of winter, but somehow classics just lend themselves to this season. If you're like us, you might be surprised at the books that have escaped you but shouldn't any longer. Eleven must-reads from our experts:
1) War and Peace
by Leo Tolstoy
“It seems semi-obnoxious to recommend a book of this length and commitment, but it's been the most important reading experience of the past three years for me and inspired a desire to read more works by that cranky, bearded Count. War and Peace introduces a group of unforgettable Russians aristocrats living through the French invasion of Russia (1812) and combines realistic dialogue and plot movement with long, philosophical, and historic essays that prompt readers to ask, what is history? Is it advanced by the acts of remarkable men, or is it out of men's hands altogether? This book would take most readers through the winter and then some (and there is at least one fantastically beautiful winter sleigh riding scene), but all lovers of 19th-century fiction would savor the experience.”
