Warm up to a Good Book- Recommended Literature

Winter is the perfect time of the year to make a cup of hot cocoa (or coffee or tea if you prefer), and curl up in your favorite spot with a good book.  The following books are several of my favorite books that I'd recommend...

• The Alienist by Caleb Carr.  A historical mystery set in Victorian New York City in the late 1800s.   As the "corrupt" NYPD only solves crimes worthy of attention, an unlikely band of detectives is formed to discover the serial killer who is murdering New York City's undesireables. 
• The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas.  This classic tells the story of Edmond Dantes, a man once imprisoned, who after he escapes from prison, sets out to bring revenge on those who betrayed him. 
• Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg.   A story of friendship with humor and mystery mixed in as only Fannie Flagg can write. 
• The Historian  by Elizabeth Kostova.  This novel tells the story of a Historians search for the real Vlad Dracula.
• Les Miserables by Victor Hugo.  Due to its size, this book is a true challenge- but the story behind the Broadway hit musical is even better than the musical.   It's a saga of a group of individuals in France whose stories become intertwined.  Don't be put off by Hugo's tendency to ramble, it's a powerful story that if you are a fan of the classics, you won't regret reading it.
• The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield.  A modern gothic novel about a young woman who is hired to write the biography of a mysterious author.
• The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenigger.   An intriguing love story between a man who has a genetic trait allowing him to travel in time and his ordinary wife.  The movie based on this book is currently in production and is due out in 2008.