--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's no division on my bookshelf…" description: "\"There's no division on my bookshelf between fiction and nonfiction. As far as I'm concerned, fiction is about the truth.\" — Arundhati Roy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3d/arundhati-roy-346_bookshelves_there-s-no-division-on-my-bookshelf-betw_1480309.png" --- # There's no division on my bookshelf between fiction and… ![“There's no division on my bookshelf between fiction and nonfiction. As far as I'm concerned, fiction is about the truth.” quote by Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3d/arundhati-roy-346_bookshelves_there-s-no-division-on-my-bookshelf-betw_1480309.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3d/arundhati-roy-346_bookshelves_there-s-no-division-on-my-bookshelf-betw_1480309.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3d/arundhati-roy-346_bookshelves_there-s-no-division-on-my-bookshelf-betw_1480309.png) > “There's no division on my bookshelf between fiction and nonfiction. As far as I'm concerned, fiction is about the truth.” [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fiction and nonfiction both convey deeper truths; genre labels are irrelevant to reality. **In simple terms:** Stories reveal truth regardless of genre. Key Takeaway Read beyond categories. Themes truth genre perception Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - reading - teaching - discussing - writing Key Concepts literature philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How does genre affect your perception of truth? - Can fiction teach more than facts? A Different Perspective Genre distinctions can limit understanding of nuanced narratives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Fiction and nonfiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction-and-nonfiction/) [Nonfiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonfiction/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [Fiction and nonfiction are not so easily divided. Fiction may not be real, but it's true; it goes beyond the garland of facts to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-martel/fiction-and-nonfiction-are-not-so-easily-divided-fiction-may-not-be-2/) [Yann Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-martel/) > [In Bosnian, there's no distinction in literature between fiction and nonfiction; there's no word describing that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandar-hemon/in-bosnian-there-s-no-distinction-in-literature-between-fiction-and/) [Aleksandar Hemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandar-hemon/) > [Fiction and nonfiction are not so easily divided. Fiction may not be real, but it's true; it goes beyond the garland of facts to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-martel/fiction-and-nonfiction-are-not-so-easily-divided-fiction-may-not-be/) [Yann Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-martel/) > [The difference between fiction and nonfiction is that fiction must be absolutely believable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-difference-between-fiction-and-nonfiction-is-that-fiction-must-be/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [It's hard to do fiction and nonfiction simultaneously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-s-hard-to-do-fiction-and-nonfiction-simultaneously/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [Fiction and nonfiction, for me, involve very different processes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-harbach/fiction-and-nonfiction-for-me-involve-very-different-processes/) [Chad Harbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-harbach/) > [I enjoy the writings of all of these authors and they have been very inspirational for me. But I think that it is important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/i-enjoy-the-writings-of-all-of-these-authors-and-they-have-been-very/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I don't actually have a one wellspring of inspiration. Though I'm most often inspired while reading - both fiction and nonfiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-rollins/i-don-t-actually-have-a-one-wellspring-of-inspiration-though-i-m-most-2/) [James Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-rollins/) > [There is always a certain leap of faith that editors have made with their nonfiction writers. If the trust is broken, things can get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-scott-berg/there-is-always-a-certain-leap-of-faith-that-editors-have-made-with/) [A. Scott Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-scott-berg/) > [Generally, I read nonfiction. Theres very little fiction that I enjoy enough to spend my time reading. I am generally a nonfiction guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/generally-i-read-nonfiction-theres-very-little-fiction-that-i-enjoy/) [Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/) > [He would write it for the reason he felt that all great literature, fiction and nonfiction, was written: truth comes out, in the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/he-would-write-it-for-the-reason-he-felt-that-all-great-literature/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Writing is writing, and stories are stories. Perhaps the only true genres are fiction and nonfiction. And even there, who can be sure?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanith-lee/writing-is-writing-and-stories-are-stories-perhaps-the-only-true/) [Tanith Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanith-lee/) > [I've seen a lot of the United States, having stayed in so many different cities and towns for work. It's such a strange and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hope-davis/i-ve-seen-a-lot-of-the-united-states-having-stayed-in-so-many-2/) [Hope Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hope-davis/) > [To be creative means to connect. It's to abolish the gap between the body, the mind and the soul, between science and art, between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawal-el-saadawi/to-be-creative-means-to-connect-it-s-to-abolish-the-gap-between-the/) [Nawal El Saadawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawal-el-saadawi/) > [At least for me, it takes more knowledge to write fiction than nonfiction. At least about someplace that I begin with a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-t-vollmann/at-least-for-me-it-takes-more-knowledge-to-write-fiction-than/) [William T. Vollmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-t-vollmann/) ## More by Arundhati Roy > [...As the disparity between the rich and the poor grows, the fight to corner resources is intensifying. To push through their "sweetheart deals," to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/as-the-disparity-between-the-rich-and-the-poor-grows-the-fight-to/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [In 2001, we were told that the war in Afghanistan was a feminist mission. The marines were liberating Afghan women from the Taliban. Can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/in-2001-we-were-told-that-the-war-in-afghanistan-was-a-feminist/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Poverty is a crime and the poor are terrorists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/poverty-is-a-crime-and-the-poor-are-terrorists/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Flat muscled and honey coloured. Sea secrets in his eyes. A silver raindrop in his ear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/flat-muscled-and-honey-coloured-sea-secrets-in-his-eyes-a-silver/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Fiction and non-fiction are only different techniques of story telling. For reasons I do not fully understand, fiction dances out of me. Non-fiction is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/fiction-and-non-fiction-are-only-different-techniques-of-story/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [NGOs have a complicated space in neoliberal politics. They are supposed to mop up the anger. Even when they are doing good work, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/ngos-have-a-complicated-space-in-neoliberal-politics-they-are/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [I've never been that person who thought that because I've written one novel, I should write another and another. It's only when there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/i-ve-never-been-that-person-who-thought-that-because-i-ve-written-one/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [It is such a supreme folly to believe that nuclear weapons are deadly only if they're used.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/it-is-such-a-supreme-folly-to-believe-that-nuclear-weapons-are-deadly/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [I think one of the saddest things that's happening to literature is that it's getting over-simplified by this diet of simple political ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/i-think-one-of-the-saddest-things-that-s-happening-to-literature-is/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [The only dream worth having, I told her, is to dream that you will live while you're alive and die only when you're dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/the-only-dream-worth-having-i-told-her-is-to-dream-that-you-will-live/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [But what was there to say? Only that there were tears. Only that Quietness and Emptiness fitted together like stacked spoons. Only that there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/but-what-was-there-to-say-only-that-there-were-tears-only-that/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Truly, there's no alternative to stupidity. Cretinism is the mother of fascism. I have no defence against it, really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/truly-there-s-no-alternative-to-stupidity-cretinism-is-the-mother-of/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [“...the secret of the Great Stories is that they have no secrets. The Great Stories are the ones you have heard and want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/the-secret-of-the-great-stories-is-that-they-have-no-secrets-the/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [“stilts, the ground floors given over to parking. It’s a good idea in this car-maddened city,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/stilts-the-ground-floors-given-over-to-parking-it-s-a-good-idea-in/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [“Perhaps it’s true that things can change in a day. That a few dozen hours can affect the outcome of whole lifetimes. And that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/perhaps-it-s-true-that-things-can-change-in-a-day-that-a-few-dozen/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) [Explore all 628 Arundhati Roy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) ## More Bookshelves quotes > [I have a nice bookshelf in my office, but not my house. I'm crass, but not that crass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/i-have-a-nice-bookshelf-in-my-office-but-not-my-house-i-m-crass-but/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [...Mr. Wodehouse is a prose stylist of such startling talent that Frankie nearly skipped around with glee when she first read some of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/mr-wodehouse-is-a-prose-stylist-of-such-startling-talent-that-frankie/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [“She says I ought to throw out at least two books for every one I buy. I had new bookshelves put up in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-edwards/she-says-i-ought-to-throw-out-at-least-two-books-for-every-one-i-buy/) [Martin Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-edwards/) > [You ever buy a book and not read it? You feel almost guilty having it up on a bookshelf. People are like, "Hey, how's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/you-ever-buy-a-book-and-not-read-it-you-feel-almost-guilty-having-it/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [If I walk into a place, a party, say, and there's a bookshelf, I immediately gravitate toward it. Unless there's a bar. But even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-evison/if-i-walk-into-a-place-a-party-say-and-there-s-a-bookshelf-i/) [Jonathan Evison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-evison/) > [I source images and ideas from different parts of my experiences, and sometimes they are things that are made-up, or just appear out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-stone/i-source-images-and-ideas-from-different-parts-of-my-experiences-and/) Julia Stone > [The time will come when, with elation you will greet yourself arriving at your own door, in your own mirror and each will smile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-walcott/the-time-will-come-when-with-elation-you-will-greet-yourself-arriving/) [Derek Walcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-walcott/) > [“If I am alive this is my book, and my father lives now in the afterlife that is a book, a thing not vague…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-williams/if-i-am-alive-this-is-my-book-and-my-father-lives-now-in-the/) [Niall Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-williams/) > [My mom didn't write, but she loved to read. She liked books 'that made you a little nervous.' Stephen King, Dean Koontz and Peter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-easton/my-mom-didn-t-write-but-she-loved-to-read-she-liked-books-that-made/) [Michael Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-easton/) > [There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in...We should be thankful we cannot see the horrors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/there-is-always-one-moment-in-childhood-when-the-door-opens-and-lets/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [I learned to build bookshelves and brought books to my room, gathering them around me thickly. I read by day and into the night.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/i-learned-to-build-bookshelves-and-brought-books-to-my-room-gathering/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [“Bookaholics are the ones who start to feel uncomfortable and uneasy in another person’s house, and suddenly realize there are no bookshelves or magazines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lee-hadden/bookaholics-are-the-ones-who-start-to-feel-uncomfortable-and-uneasy/) Robert Lee Hadden > [I stretched out my hand towards the little bookshelf where I kept cookery and devotional books, the most comfortable bedside reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-pym/i-stretched-out-my-hand-towards-the-little-bookshelf-where-i-kept/) [Barbara Pym](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-pym/) > [I would be the most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-would-be-the-most-content-if-my-children-grew-up-to-be-the-kind-of/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [“Jamie felt a strong desire to go across and see what the open books were, to go to the shelves and run his knuckles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/jamie-felt-a-strong-desire-to-go-across-and-see-what-the-open-books/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) Browse all 135 Bookshelves quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There's no division on my bookshelf between fiction and nonfiction. 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