John鈥檚 Year in Books

What did you read this year?

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2024

45,346

pages read

115

books read

John

Shortest Book

pages

Batman by Paul Dini Omnibus by Paul Dini

Longest Book

1,032

pages

Average book length in 2024

394

pages

Most Shelved

2,037,067

people also shelved

Lee Invades the North by Bradley M. Gottfried

Least Shelved

people also shelved

John鈥檚 average rating for 2024

3.8

Killed in Action at Gettysburg by Gregory Coco

Highest Rated on 欧宝娱乐

4.75 average

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by Kevin Eastman

John鈥檚 first review of the year

really liked it

Another good read in the second volume of the TMNT Ultimate Collection. A lot of impressive artwork and filled with fun stories. The first one with Michaelangelo stopping thieves from stealing Christmas toys and seeing the return of the Turtles' archnemesis the Shredder. The commentary by the creators on the comics in this volume. I found it interesting they had no desire to bring Shredder back, but wanted to change the setting of the story, so t ...more

闯翱贬狈鈥橲 2024 BOOKS

The Siege of Vicksburg by Timothy B. Smith

it was amazing

I Survived to Tell by Noach (Natan) 呕elechower

The Last Winter of the Weimar Republic by R眉diger Barth

it was amazing

The World Will Never See the Like by John L. Hopkins

Benedict Arnold's Army by Arthur S. Lefkowitz

Tartarugas Ninja, Volume 5 by Kevin Eastman

This Day in Presidential History by Paul Brandus

One Square Mile of Hell by John Wukovits

it was amazing

The Incredible Hulk Omnibus Vol. 2 by Stan Lee

The Incredible Hulk Omnibus, Vol. 1 by Stan Lee

Batman 鈥� Detective Comics, Volume 3 by John Layman

it was amazing

The Immortal Hulk Omnibus, Volume 2 by Al Ewing

The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X

it was amazing

Gettysburg--The First Day by Harry W. Pfanz

The Immortal Hulk Omnibus, Volume 3 by Al Ewing

鈥淥ver a Wide, Hot . . . Crimson Plain鈥� by Elwood Christ

really liked it

The Unvanquished by Patrick K. O'Donnell

War in the Western Theater by Chris Mackowski

The Inland Campaign for Vicksburg by Timothy B. Smith

really liked it

Awakening the Spirit of America by Paul M. Sparrow

The Presidents and the People by Corey Brettschneider

Predator - Original Years Omnibus - Vol 01 by Mark Verheiden

鈥淪trong Men of the Regiment Sobbed Like Children鈥� by John Michael Priest

"Tell Mother Not to Worry" by Ronald D. Kirkwood

it was amazing

A Mississippi Rebel in the Army of Northern Virginia by David Holt

Predator versus Wolverine by Benjamin Percy

Battle Cry of Freedom by James M. McPherson

it was amazing

Race to the Potomac by Bradley M. Gottfried

Grant and Sherman by Charles Bracelen Flood

The Colors of Courage by Margaret S. Creighton

Remembering Jim Crow by William Henry Chafe

really liked it

I Know What You Did Last Summer by Lois Duncan

Gettysburg's Forgotten Cavalry Actions by Eric J. Wittenberg

Pickett's Charge in History and Memory by Carol Reardon

Days of Uncertainty and Dread by Gerald R. Bennett

Gettysburg--Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill by Harry W. Pfanz

it was amazing

John鈥檚 last review of the year

liked it

I had the privilege to live in Budapest for four months back in 2013. I fell in love with the city and it became a second home. I enjoyed the opportunity I had to explore every part of the place. I lived in Obuda (Old Buda) in District 3, which you can see on the map in Sebestyen's book. There were Roman ruins where I lived, so the beginning of Victor Sebestyen's book covers the Romans being in Hungary. That brought back memories of walking to th I had the privilege to live in Budapest for four months back in 2013. I fell in love with the city and it became a second home. I enjoyed the opportunity I had to explore every part of the place. I lived in Obuda (Old Buda) in District 3, which you can see on the map in Sebestyen's book. There were Roman ruins where I lived, so the beginning of Victor Sebestyen's book covers the Romans being in Hungary. That brought back memories of walking to the grocery store and passing ancient artifacts from that time period. I had not seen Roman ruins in person at the time, so it was amazing to see.

Sebestyen continues on with the history of the Magyars and then with the Turks invading Hungary. He covers the Austrian-Hungarian Empire, the World Wars, Soviet occupation and other topics. I enjoyed the beginning of the book and the end of the book immensely. In the middle, however, I found myself bored at times. I wish Sebestyen had a glossary to keep track of all the Hungarian names. I knew some of the figures, but others were new to me and I had to remember who was who.

I did not love this book as much as his biography about Vladimir Lenin, but I still enjoyed this book. Like I said before, it brought back memories of my time there. There is a photo of the city from a high point. That is Gellert Hill and it is the best spot to see a picturesque view of Budapest. I walked from apartment to Gellert Hill many times to enjoy this. Sebestyen's description of the Shoe Monument to honor the Jews murdered by the Arrow Cross Party, a fascist Hungarian militia, succinctly describes my emotions when I saw it.

Sebestyen's best part of the book is when he describes Buda versus Pest. Although the same city, they are extremely different. Considering I lived in Obuda I felt like I was not in a city. It was quiet and relaxed where I lived, no hustle and bustle like on the Pest side. They did not unite until 1873. Also, when Sebestyen explains that Hungary is not European and is its own culture was something I connected with a lot. When I landed at the airport in Budapest, I did not feel like I was in Europe, and please do not take that as a negative statement because I do not mean it that way. Hungary is a unique country and I have a lot of great memories living in Budapest. Sebestyen definitely brought back some of my cherished moments there. An excellent book for those who have been to Budapest or plan to visit. It will help you understand it better and appreciate the uniqueness. ...more

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