"White Nights of Russia"

 Last year, I went to the Chennai Book Fair with a well-thought-out plan to buy numerous books. However, this time, I was occupied with my internship at college. Despite that, I arranged for my so-called friend to buy a book for me, which I selected through a video call at the book fair. When she asked for a book recommendation, my brain struggled to decide. Finally, a flash in my mind led me to suggest the novel "White Nights" written by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

In response to her inquiry about why I recommended the novel and its summary, I explained that across various languages, filmmakers have adapted this story into over a hundred movies and short films. "White Nights" is a short novel, spanning four nights and one morning, with a dual hero narrative. The protagonist is a girl living with her grandmother in St. Petersburg, Russia, during the winter season. She falls in love with a man living upstairs, who communicates with her through letters. As she waits for his return, the young man protects her from bullies on the snowy streets of St. Petersburg during their first meeting.

The subsequent nights are beautifully depicted, portraying their developing relationship. Imagine a meeting on a winter night in St. Petersburg, with yellowish street lamps, snowfall, and a park bench where they share their love stories. On the fifth morning, the man fulfills his dream by returning to her, and they unite. 

This classic narrative has also been adapted into a Tamil movie titled "Iyarkai," directed by S.P. Jananathan, starring Shaam, Arun Vijay, and Kutty Radhika.

This is truly one of the most captivating stories I have ever read, and I encourage you not to miss the chance to embark on a journey through Russia in the winter season by reading this book.