--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Clearly she knew that between book…" description: "\"“Clearly she knew that between book lovers, a novel is not a novel is not a novel. It's a symbol, an offering -- and sometimes a test”\" — Sara Nelson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf6/sara-nelson-39641_book_clearly-she-knew-that-between-book-lover_473545.png" --- # Clearly she knew that between book lovers, a novel is not… ![“Clearly she knew that between book lovers, a novel is not a novel is not a novel. It's a symbol, an offering -- and sometimes a test” quote by Sara Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf6/sara-nelson-39641_book_clearly-she-knew-that-between-book-lover_473545.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf6/sara-nelson-39641_book_clearly-she-knew-that-between-book-lover_473545.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf6/sara-nelson-39641_book_clearly-she-knew-that-between-book-lover_473545.png) > ““Clearly she knew that between book lovers, a novel is not a novel is not a novel. It's a symbol, an offering -- and sometimes a test”” [Sara Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-nelson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Novels serve as symbols and tests, offering deeper meaning beyond their surface narrative. **In simple terms:** Novels are symbolic tests. Key Takeaway Read for deeper meaning. Themes literature symbolism interpretation testing Mood analytical thoughtful Type literary inspirational When to use this quote - book club discussions - literary analysis - creative writing - teaching literature Key Concepts Semiotics critical theory storytelling Questions to Reflect On - What symbols do you find in your favorite novel? - How does a novel test your beliefs? A Different Perspective Readers may overinterpret symbols. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Book Lovers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book-lovers-2/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Lovers Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lovers-novel-4088156/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Novel Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel-novel-1041157/) [Novel Symbol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel-symbol-2854323/) ## Related quotes > [“Like the moon, the novel is a symbol and a necessary reality. Ideally it serves neither gods nor masters. Philosopher’s stone, it sublimates, precipitates,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rikki-ducornet/like-the-moon-the-novel-is-a-symbol-and-a-necessary-reality-ideally/) [Rikki Ducornet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rikki-ducornet/) > [The more I like a book, the more reluctant I am to turn the page. Lovers, even book lovers, tend to cling. No one-night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-broyard/the-more-i-like-a-book-the-more-reluctant-i-am-to-turn-the-page/) [Anatole Broyard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-broyard/) > [What we know about writing the novel is the novel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eudora-welty/what-we-know-about-writing-the-novel-is-the-novel/) [Eudora Welty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eudora-welty/) > [I think the success of every novel - if it's a novel of action - depends on the high spots. The thing to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse-2/i-think-the-success-of-every-novel-if-it-s-a-novel-of-action-depends/) [P. G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse-2/) > [To me, a book is a book. A novel is a novel, and you have hundreds of possibilities, options, and they may all be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-petterson/to-me-a-book-is-a-book-a-novel-is-a-novel-and-you-have-hundreds-of/) [Per Petterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-petterson/) > [In general, I think every novel is a political novel, in that every novel is an argument about how the world works, who has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-perks/in-general-i-think-every-novel-is-a-political-novel-in-that-every/) [Micah Perks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-perks/) > [My first novel - the novel I wrote before 'Midnight's Children' - feels, to me, now, very - I mean, I get embarrassed when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/my-first-novel-the-novel-i-wrote-before-midnight-s-children-feels-to/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [I always wanted to write. While I was on a long surf trip, supporting myself with various day jobs, I was working hard on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-finnegan/i-always-wanted-to-write-while-i-was-on-a-long-surf-trip-supporting/) [William Finnegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-finnegan/) > [It's hard enough to make a novel a novel. I wouldn't know how to make it something else at the same time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-specktor/it-s-hard-enough-to-make-a-novel-a-novel-i-wouldn-t-know-how-to-make/) [Matthew Specktor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-specktor/) > [The novel ceases to be looked at as a novel. Such is the overwhelming power of motion pictures. Gore Vidal pointed out that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-monahan/the-novel-ceases-to-be-looked-at-as-a-novel-such-is-the-overwhelming/) [William Monahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-monahan/) > [In reading a novel, any novel, we have to know perfectly well that the whole thing is nonsense, and then, while reading, believe every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/in-reading-a-novel-any-novel-we-have-to-know-perfectly-well-that-the/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > ['Annapurna' is a sort of novel. It's a novel, but a true novel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-herzog/annapurna-is-a-sort-of-novel-it-s-a-novel-but-a-true-novel/) [Maurice Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-herzog/) > [Only one novel is a novel: that is a successful novel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-golding/only-one-novel-is-a-novel-that-is-a-successful-novel/) [William Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-golding/) > [Why would somebody just read a novel when they can see it on TV or in the cinema? I really have to think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/why-would-somebody-just-read-a-novel-when-they-can-see-it-on-tv-or-in/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [If I had a plot that was all set in advance, why would I want go through the agony of writing the novel? A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaim-potok/if-i-had-a-plot-that-was-all-set-in-advance-why-would-i-want-go/) [Chaim Potok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaim-potok/) ## More by Sara Nelson > [Interest in reading memoirs is universal. What has happened is that people are writing about more and more outrageous things. Our threshold for weirdness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-nelson/interest-in-reading-memoirs-is-universal-what-has-happened-is-that/) [Sara Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-nelson/) > [“...if I've learned one thing in my decades on earth, it's this: Don't argue with your lizard brain; it knows you better than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-nelson/if-i-ve-learned-one-thing-in-my-decades-on-earth-it-s-this-don-t/) [Sara Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-nelson/) > [“Why bother with other people's worlds made of words? was his philosophy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-nelson/why-bother-with-other-people-s-worlds-made-of-words-was-his-philosophy/) [Sara Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-nelson/) > [“But my subconscious mind--the part I've heard writers call the lizard brain--could and did: it told me to reach for Anne Lamott or Edith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-nelson/but-my-subconscious-mind-the-part-i-ve-heard-writers-call-the-lizard/) [Sara Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-nelson/) > [“Reading's ability to beam you up to a different world is a good part of the reason why people like me do it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-nelson/reading-s-ability-to-beam-you-up-to-a-different-world-is-a-good-part/) [Sara Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-nelson/) > [“You know you're in a bad patch when the most interesting part of the book you're reading is the acknowledgments page.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-nelson/you-know-you-re-in-a-bad-patch-when-the-most-interesting-part-of-the/) [Sara Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-nelson/) > [Explaining the moment of connection between a reader and book to someone who's never experienced it is like trying to describe sex to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-nelson/explaining-the-moment-of-connection-between-a-reader-and-book-to/) [Sara Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-nelson/) > [When things go right, I read. When things go wrong, I read more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-nelson/when-things-go-right-i-read-when-things-go-wrong-i-read-more/) [Sara Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-nelson/) > [“I m not about to tell him that I am just like Anna and Emma, an adulteress. My books are my secret lovers, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-nelson/i-m-not-about-to-tell-him-that-i-am-just-like-anna-and-emma-an/) [Sara Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-nelson/) > [Allowing yourself to stop reading a book - at page 25, 50, or even, less frequently, a few chapters from the end - is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-nelson/allowing-yourself-to-stop-reading-a-book-at-page-25-50-or-even-less/) [Sara Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-nelson/) [Explore all 11 Sara Nelson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-nelson/) ## More Book 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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. 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I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [There are great books in this world and great worlds in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-are-great-books-in-this-world-and-great-worlds-in-books/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) [Browse all 29,378 Book quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Clearly she knew that between book lovers, a novel is not a novel is not a novel. 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