Nostalgia, in simple terms, is a vessel to traverse beyond the suffocating confines of time and space. It is a cheeky little tool that helps remind and reassure us that as humdrum and banal life may seem, it does have a narrative, and that the future holds memorable moments and experiences too. So when I was asked to write an author recommendation, I could not think of a better writer than Darren Shan.
An essential part of my childhood, the Saga of Darren Shan, written by, well, Darren Shan(Nah, that is just his pen name, his real name is Darren O’Shaughnessy), is what got me aboard the fiction train, and I have not looked back since. A solid entry point to the YA fantasy genre, the series checks all the boxes: vampires, dead teens and progressively more graphic violence. But that is not necessarily it. A coming of age tale that grows with its readers with lucid writing, great characters(I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER YOU MR. CREPSLEY), and a good bit of philosophy sprinkled in, The Saga of Darren
Shan makes for a fantastic read for all ages. A criminally underrated author, Darren weaves a magical tale of vampires and vampenzes, death and destiny, with such simple conviction that one cannot help but hop on the literary train for an unforgettable journey.
Maybe this is my bias that writes. Maybe, I have fallen a-prey to rosy retrospection. And honestly, I do not see much wrong with that. If anything is for sure, it is that time will continue its impending and inevitable march to our doom. No lockdown or curfew can curb that. But hey, if reminiscing can help you escape the worries of today, more power to you, right?
"Stories do not end. They continue as long as you are alive. You just have to get on with things. Turn the page, start a new chapter, find out what is in store for you next, and keep your fingers crossed that it is not too awful. Even if you know in your heart and soul that it most probably will be."
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