
Theodore Von Holst. Illustration from the frontispiece of the 1831 edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.
I’ve tried several versions of my return speech, from bombastic to self-deprecatory, but all of them seemed off. I even compared my blog to Frankenstein’s monster, who I’d decided to resuscitate; hence the picture. I wanted to mention how I suddenly started getting job offers because of the content I had created here over the 6-year period, and how the stats haven’t declined much over the fallow year, and also how The Untranslated has been gaining new followers despite the farewell message hanging at the top. But all those things wouldn’t have been a sufficient reason for me to resume blogging. There’s just some things I have discovered that I’d like to share, and posting a recommendation on Twitter (“look, what an awesome book!”) wouldn’t cut it. That said, I also realise that I need an external stimulus to resume even a semblance of my past activity, no matter how token this stimulus may be, and that’s why I’ve joined Patreon. My first review after the hiatus is available there. It took me a week to write it. I do not intend to keep it and other reviews behind the lock forever, of course: everything which first appears on Patreon will be reposted here after a month with one condition: there is at least one person supporting me. If there is none, this blog dies again and for good. That’s the easiest way for me to check the real value of what I’ve been doing here. Deeds matter. Words don’t. Good to see you again, everybody.
The Return of the King
Thanks, Jasmine!
Good Luck. Not everyone gets to survive from writing alone. Or wants to. But of course everyone says they do, right? Because who wants to be a driver or cashier forever?
I’m so excited to see this. Welcome back!
Thank you, Melissa!
Welcome back!
Thanks!
I’m so glad!!
Thank you! Happy to make someone glad.
We missed your book reviews. We’ve discovered thru your comments a great unknown literature to enjoy reading ourselves despite, sometimes, the lack of knowledge of the original language or the impossibility to find that particular book. Congrats Dr.
Thanks a lot, Josep.
So good to have you back. Long may you remain.
Thanks a lot. I wish I had your stamina, but I’ll try my best.
Please, stay with us.
I’ll try my best.
So glad to see you back.
Thank you.
This is great news; thanks for giving it another try!
Thanks! We’ll see how it goes.
Excelente noticia, Andréi. Ya extrañaba tus reseñas (la palabra no le hace justicia a tus escritos. Un abrazo. saludos
Muchas gracias!
Здорово!
Спасибо!
YES! I still have your post about your process to learn a language for reading saved and I have reread it I don’t know how many times AND have recommended it to others. So glad you’re back. Спасибо большое!
Thanks a lot for the good words!
Обаятельный новогодний подарочек! 2021 сулит много хорошего.
Постараюсь не разочаровать!
Glad to have you back!
Thanks!
Great to have you back! Looking forward to your posts, especially on Russian literature of which I learned a lot from your blog.
Thank you
Marju
Thanks, Marju! I’ll try not to disappoint.
I’ve discovered this blog in its ‘hibernating’ period while doing some research. The emptiness of abandoned personal blogs and websites fills me with dread, so I couldn’t push myself to read many previous entries. I bookmarked the address, hoping one day I would keep on reading. I would visit the website once in a while and try to read. That’s how I came across this post.
Here’s to a more independent, less aggregated Internet where more difficult and more rewarding ideas can survive. I wish you the best of luck.
Thank you, Egemen!