Good Novel Quotes
44 quotes by 38 authors
-
The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.
— Jane Austen
-
A good novel tells us the truth about its hero; but a bad novel tells us the truth about its author.
— Gilbert K. Chesterton
-
My sole literary ambition is to write one good novel, then retire to my hut in the desert, assume the lotus position, compose my mind…
— Edward Abbey
-
On the whole, dialogue is the most difficult thing, without any doubt. It's very difficult, unfortunately. You have to detach yourself from the notion of…
— John Fowles
-
The deepest quality of a work of art will always be the quality of the mind of the producer...No good novel will ever proceed from…
— Henry James
-
Life has its pains and evils-its bitter disappointments; but like a good novel and in healthful length of days, there is infinite joy in seeing…
— W. E. B. Du Bois
-
My test of a good novel is dreading to begin the last chapter.
— Tom Helm
-
A good novel is worth more then the best scientific study.
— Saul Bellow
-
Listen closely. There’s a remote possibility that you might learn something: First, I don’t give a damn if my work is commercial or not…I’m the…
— John Fante
-
I've sold too many books to get good reviews anymore. There's a lot of jealousy, because [reviewers] think they can write a good novel or…
— John Grisham
-
I think a good novel would be where a bunch of men on a ship are looking for a whale. They look and look, but…
— Jack Handey
-
I don't think it's possible to write a good novel around a negative personality.
— Alberto Moravia
-
A good novel should be deeply unsettling - its satisfactions should come from its authenticity and its formal coherence. We must feel something crucial is…
— Dana Spiotta
-
I think a good novel can be a doorstop to despair. I also think the real bravery comes with those who prepared to go through…
— Colum McCann
-
A good novel cannot be too long nor a bad novel too short.
— Ellen Glasgow
-
For your information, a good novel can change the world. Keep that in mind before you attempt to sit down at a typewriter. Never waste…
— John Fante
-
I don't think the 'what' distinguishes a good novel from a bad one but rather the 'how.'
— Joseph Heller
-
A good novel editor is invisible.
— Terri Windling
-
I can't think of any one film that improved on a good novel, but I can think of many good films that came from very…
— Gabriel Garcia Marquez
-
The average detective story is probably no worse than the average novel, but you never see the average novel. It doesn't get published. The average…
— Raymond Chandler
Who Wrote These Good Novel Quotes
38 authors contributed a total of 44 Good Novel Quotes, led by these top contributors: