For the book-lovers the image would have given a fair bit of idea about the novels. To be self-critical I am still a beginner in reading who is still finding his way into the amazing world of novels. Coming back to nostalgia and romance, the term “Romance” does not always imply a typical boy-girl love-story but depicts the aesthetic and the rich emotional experience the stories create.

 I have a weakness for nostalgia and at times can’t stop myself from indulging in it.

As per Wikipedia, “The term nostalgia describes sentimentality for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations.”

The perfect nostalgia driven novel has to be “Norwegian Wood” by the legendary Haruki Murakami. This man’s writing is simply surreal and transcends you into the Murakami world where the real and fantasy merge seamlessly. Although Norwegian Wood contains almost zero   surreal elements, a feature of Murakami, the nostalgia and the love-story it speaks about is something which is disturbing in a unique way and manages to pull you in the dark and deep emotions of the protagonists Toru, Naoko and Midori. When Toru starts recalling his college days he starts understanding the real emotions Naoko had for him and how Midori saves him from losing himself. It’s a must-read for all the book lovers who want to taste the brilliance of Haruki Murakami.

Another beautiful story which makes you look into your childhood days is Khalid Hosseini’s masterpiece, “The Kite Runner”.  The friendship of Amir and Hassan is stuff of legends. Even the father-son relationship between Amir and Baba is portrayed very well. The pure emotions which Hosseini can generate are spell-binding and you can feel for war-torn Afghanistan in all of his novels. All his stories showcase that one can find hope even in the most difficult circumstances, and the power of love overpowers all boundaries and divisions. One choice can change the entire course of life.

The Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk has this amazing ability to weave politics, humane emotions and love-story in the gloomy ambience of “Snow”.  The snow covered Kars; a desolate far-away place disconnected from modern civilization puts Ka, the main protagonist oscillating between his childhood Turkey and the present day(as per the novel’s timeline) Istanbul which has undergone a massive change.  In the degrading state of Kars, Ka has the only chance of finding pieces of his childhood dreams and his hearts’ longings. I am yet to complete this book and it has kept me wanting for more.

What touches or influences you when you read fiction? It’s a very interesting area to explore. The magic of art lies in touching your innermost seat of emotions and is worth thinking about.