Alfred in the Chroniclers, by Edward Conybeare

I've been reading about Alfred the Great lately, and came across this account of Alfred's life drawn from 14 medieval chronicles, including the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles. Full disclosure, my copy was the first edition, and really beat up, so when I tried to find a cover art image, all I could find was a bunch of reprints, so I picked the most attractive cover image to use here. It was fascinating to read these accounts, some written hundreds of years after the time in question, and many of which copied from earlier chronicles (e.g., the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles or Asser). As I'm watching The Last Kingdom right now on Netflix, it's been fun looking at what was taken from the chronicles and what has been completely invented.
 

Black dogs, by Ian McEwan

 

I loved this short novel by Ian McEwan. Orphaned at a young age, Jeremy has always admired the parents of his friends, and his in-laws are no exception. Closer to them than their own children are, Jeremy decides to write a book about their lives as they get older and more frail. The conflict in the book revolves around an anecdote told by June, his mother-in-law, which she sees as a defining moment of her life that slowly drives a wedge between her and her husband, Bernard. McEwan draws out the tale slowly so that the reader only learns of its significance near the end of the book. This book touched on the in-laws service during the second world war, their communist convictions (which didn't last long), and the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. McEwan is a wonderful writer; every sentence is carefully crafted.

In the company of writers, by Charles Scribner, Jr.

 

I found this book at the Dog's Ear used book store in Hoosick, NY, in the Books about Books section, one of my favorite parts of the store to browse. The author discusses his childhood, education, and career in publishing, leading up to the day when he invites another company to take over Scribner Publishing through a stock swap. It's a charming look at the publishing industry with lots of anecdotes about some of the famous authors that Scribner's published, including Ernest Hemingway. A quick read that give you some insight into how publishing works.

The amazing, remarkable Monsieur Leotard, by Eddie Campbell and Dan Best

 

I really enjoyed this graphic novel about a young man who tries to take over the management of a circus troupe after his uncle plunges to his death from the trapeze. The illustrations are wonderful, and the story is engaging and sweet. It includes a lot of humor, and there are clever illustrations in the margins of many of the pages.

The almost sisters, by Joshilyn Jackson

 

This novel follows Leia, a comic book artist, as she faces several family crises at the same time, including an unexpected pregnancy, her perfect stepsister's failing marriage, and her beloved grandmother's dementia. She relocates to her grandmother's house with her precocious niece who takes it upon herself to contact the father of Leia's child, who hasn't been told yet. When they find a skeleton in the attic, the whole town gets involved, and Leia has to find out the truth about her family's past to protect her grandmother. I really enjoyed this book; it's a quick read, and the plot never slows down.

The young Alfred the Great, by Naomi Mitchison

 

I really enjoyed this YA novel about the young Alfred the Great, considered the first English king. He is famous for many accomplishments, including forming the English navy, inventing the lantern, and using candles to measure the passing of time. This novel starts with his trip to Rome and takes us through much of his early history.

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles

This was a fascinating history of what became England from year 1 through the middle of the 12th century. Nicely illustrated and with lots of explanatory text interspersed among the entries.