While most Americans are familiar with the cinematic version of Gone with the Wind, few people have read Mitchell's 800 page masterpiece. The book's length might seem daunting, but Mitchell's interweaving of fascinating characters and events gives a unique voice to the Civil War and the Reconstruction era in the American South and makes the time investment worth it. (Click for more...)   

Rating: 7 for enjoyment and plot/character development. Great Short Works of Leo Tolstoy is appropriate for those who are already Tolstoy fans, and also for those desiring a taste for the reputed Russian writer. The universality of each story and well-fleshed out characters evince Tolstoy’s genius. A few words of caution: he lapses into un-translated French at points, and Russian names can be tricky (though not incomprehensible) for a first timer. (Click for more...)