--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've always had the wish, the nostalgia…" description: "\"I've always had the wish, the nostalgia to be able to write detective novels. At heart, the principal themes of detective novels are close to the thing..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/391/patrick-modiano-14360_books_i-ve-always-had-the-wish-the-nostalgia-t_2100893.jpg" --- # I've always had the wish, the nostalgia to be able to… ![“I've always had the wish, the nostalgia to be able to write detective novels. At heart, the principal themes of detective novels are close to the things that obsess me: disappearance, the problems of identity, amnesia, the return to an enigmatic past.” quote by Patrick Modiano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/391/patrick-modiano-14360_books_i-ve-always-had-the-wish-the-nostalgia-t_2100893.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/391/patrick-modiano-14360_books_i-ve-always-had-the-wish-the-nostalgia-t_2100893.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/391/patrick-modiano-14360_books_i-ve-always-had-the-wish-the-nostalgia-t_2100893.jpg) > “I've always had the wish, the nostalgia to be able to write detective novels. At heart, the principal themes of detective novels are close to the things that obsess me: disappearance, the problems of identity, amnesia, the return to an enigmatic past.” [Patrick Modiano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-modiano/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author desires to write detective stories, drawn to themes of disappearance, identity, amnesia, and mysterious pasts. **In simple terms:** He wants to write detective novels about identity and mystery. Key Takeaway Explore personal obsessions in creative work. Themes creativity identity memory mystery Mood reflective inquisitive Type interview aspirational When to use this quote - writing a novel - researching amnesia - exploring past trauma Key Concepts detective fiction personal motivation psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do personal obsessions shape your art? - What draws you to mystery? A Different Perspective Balancing personal obsession with broader audience appeal can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Nostalgia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nostalgia/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [At first I imagined I'd write detective novels, because I loved 'Nancy Drew.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/at-first-i-imagined-i-d-write-detective-novels-because-i-loved-nancy/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [When I feel that I'm going to write a detective story, I buy a five pound box of chocolates and a ream of paper.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-wells/when-i-feel-that-i-m-going-to-write-a-detective-story-i-buy-a-five/) [Carolyn Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-wells/) > [Anyone can write a detective story about a detective who fails, for Pete's sake. That's pretty unambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-waid/anyone-can-write-a-detective-story-about-a-detective-who-fails-for/) [Mark Waid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-waid/) > [“And there are still a number of people around who say that Hammett didn't write detective stories at all-merely hard-boiled chronicles of mean streets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/and-there-are-still-a-number-of-people-around-who-say-that-hammett/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [Narrativity presumes a special taste for plot. And this taste for plot was always very present in the Anglo-Saxon countries and that explains their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/narrativity-presumes-a-special-taste-for-plot-and-this-taste-for-plot/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [I often use detective elements in my books. I love detective novels. But I also think science fiction and detective stories are very close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-lukyanenko/i-often-use-detective-elements-in-my-books-i-love-detective-novels/) [Sergei Lukyanenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-lukyanenko/) > [The only two kinds of books could earn an American writer a living are cookbooks and detective novels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/the-only-two-kinds-of-books-could-earn-an-american-writer-a-living/) [Rex Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-stout/) > [While I was writing poems, I would often divert myself by reading detective novels, I liked them. And there was a period when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/while-i-was-writing-poems-i-would-often-divert-myself-by-reading/) [Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/) > [I never read detective novels. I started out in graduate school writing a more serious book. Right around that time I read 'The Day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/i-never-read-detective-novels-i-started-out-in-graduate-school/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [ “\[…\] detective novels are not novels of detection, still less of revelation, still less of solution. Those are all necessary, but not only are… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/china-mi-ville/detective-novels-are-not-novels-of-detection-still-less-of-revelation/) [China Miéville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/china-mi-ville/) > [In ordinary detective novels you never see the consequences of what happens in a story in the next book. That you do in mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-ordinary-detective-novels-you-never-see-the-consequences-of-what/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [And of course Marc Cherry heightens it and makes it hilarious. But there's so many universal themes in the show, and he made it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-denton/and-of-course-marc-cherry-heightens-it-and-makes-it-hilarious-but/) [James Denton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-denton/) > [After a few days with the iPhone X, I can begin to make out its themes. It's a step towards fading the actual physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levy/after-a-few-days-with-the-iphone-x-i-can-begin-to-make-out-its-themes/) [Steven Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levy/) > [In 'Westworld,' I really got to explore new areas, stylistically. We had the Indian world, we had Shogun world, so I got to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramin-djawadi/in-westworld-i-really-got-to-explore-new-areas-stylistically-we-had/) [Ramin Djawadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramin-djawadi/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) ## More by Patrick Modiano > [Nice is a city of ghosts and specters, but I hope not to become one of them right away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-modiano/nice-is-a-city-of-ghosts-and-specters-but-i-hope-not-to-become-one-of/) [Patrick Modiano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-modiano/) > [I write in the most classical French because this form is necessary for my novels: to translate the murky, floating, unsettling atmosphere I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-modiano/i-write-in-the-most-classical-french-because-this-form-is-necessary/) [Patrick Modiano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-modiano/) > [On winning Literature Nobel Prize: I was actually in the street. Yes, I was in the street. It was my daughter who notified me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-modiano/on-winning-literature-nobel-prize-i-was-actually-in-the-street-yes-i/) [Patrick Modiano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-modiano/) > [Encourage aspiring writers to continue writing when things are going against them, when it feels hard. Explain the typical obstacles that occur, and encourage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-modiano/encourage-aspiring-writers-to-continue-writing-when-things-are-going/) [Patrick Modiano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-modiano/) > [“For me the autumn has never been a sad season. 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I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-modiano/for-a-long-time-i-ve-had-a-recurring-dream-i-dream-i-don-t-have-to/) [Patrick Modiano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-modiano/) > [Really, I prefer not to read my early books. Not that I don't like them, but I don't recognize myself anymore, like an old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-modiano/really-i-prefer-not-to-read-my-early-books-not-that-i-don-t-like-them/) [Patrick Modiano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-modiano/) > [I think I became a writer because I didn't know of anything else to do. Maybe some incident from my childhood influenced me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-modiano/i-think-i-became-a-writer-because-i-didn-t-know-of-anything-else-to/) [Patrick Modiano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-modiano/) > [A man without scenery is completely disarmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-modiano/a-man-without-scenery-is-completely-disarmed/) [Patrick Modiano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-modiano/) > [The more things remain obscure and mysterious, the more they interest me. I even try to find mystery in things that have none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-modiano/the-more-things-remain-obscure-and-mysterious-the-more-they-interest/) [Patrick Modiano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-modiano/) > [I just have two daughters and a grandson. So not a big family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-modiano/i-just-have-two-daughters-and-a-grandson-so-not-a-big-family/) [Patrick Modiano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-modiano/) > [I quickly realised that it is difficult to get started when writing a novel. You have this dream of what you want to create,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-modiano/i-quickly-realised-that-it-is-difficult-to-get-started-when-writing-a/) [Patrick Modiano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-modiano/) > [My wife's a lot younger than me ... thirty years difference . . . You should never marry a woman a lot younger than you ... Never ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-modiano/my-wife-s-a-lot-younger-than-me-thirty-years-difference-you-should/) [Patrick Modiano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-modiano/) [Explore all 32 Patrick Modiano quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-modiano/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) Christopher K. 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