---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't trust novels with points, do you?…"
description: "\"I don't trust novels with points, do you? If a novel is only about a point, the writer should just say it in as few words as possible so we can take it..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae2/william-lashner-11715_about_i-don-t-trust-novels-with-points-do-you_1345092.jpg"
---

#  I don't trust novels with points, do you? If a novel is…

![“I don't trust novels with points, do you? If a novel is only about a point, the writer should just say it in as few words as possible so we can take it in and go back to watching 'The Bachelor' on television.” quote by William Lashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae2/william-lashner-11715_about_i-don-t-trust-novels-with-points-do-you_1345092.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae2/william-lashner-11715_about_i-don-t-trust-novels-with-points-do-you_1345092.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae2/william-lashner-11715_about_i-don-t-trust-novels-with-points-do-you_1345092.jpg)

> “I don't trust novels with points, do you? If a novel is only about a point, the writer should just say it in as few words as possible so we can take it in and go back to watching 'The Bachelor' on television.”

[William Lashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lashner/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Novels focused solely on a point can feel shallow; brevity may be better.

**In simple terms:** Point‑driven novels can feel shallow.

Key Takeaway

Seek depth beyond single points.

Themes

literature brevity meaning

Mood

analytical critical

Type

literary personal

When to use this quote

- book clubs
- creative writing
- media criticism

Key Concepts

writing style reader expectations

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you prefer depth or brevity in stories?
- How does a single point affect your engagement?

A Different Perspective

Some concise works convey profound ideas effectively.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bachelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bachelor/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Novels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novels/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

> [You know, the point of a novel - or to me, the point of a novel, the gift of a novel is to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/you-know-the-point-of-a-novel-or-to-me-the-point-of-a-novel-the-gift/)

[Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/)

> [There's no point for me in being a writer and having all these blocked places where I feel I can't think freely and imagine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/binyavanga-wainaina/there-s-no-point-for-me-in-being-a-writer-and-having-all-these/)

[Binyavanga Wainaina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/binyavanga-wainaina/)

> [Shall I never see a bachelor of three score again?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/shall-i-never-see-a-bachelor-of-three-score-again/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [The truth is you may be far happier as a bachelor, but you are far more at peace as a father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sajid-khan/the-truth-is-you-may-be-far-happier-as-a-bachelor-but-you-are-far/)

[Sajid Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sajid-khan/)

> [The press has created this bachelor persona, but it's not really me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilmer-valderrama/the-press-has-created-this-bachelor-persona-but-it-s-not-really-me/)

[Wilmer Valderrama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilmer-valderrama/)

> [Obviously there was no point in being a bachelor if his houseman was going to filch his booze. If he was going to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/obviously-there-was-no-point-in-being-a-bachelor-if-his-houseman-was/)

[Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/)

> [I think the beauty of the concept of 'The Bachelor' is that it will never be the same thing twice. I think it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-matthews/i-think-the-beauty-of-the-concept-of-the-bachelor-is-that-it-will/)

[Spencer Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-matthews/)

> [I don't want to hear about the endless struggles to keep sex exciting, or the work it takes to plan a date night. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/i-don-t-want-to-hear-about-the-endless-struggles-to-keep-sex-exciting/)

[Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

> [When it comes to love, making long-term decisions is a risky business. Sooner or later, most of us decide to leave our carefree bachelor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-fry/when-it-comes-to-love-making-long-term-decisions-is-a-risky-business/)

[Hannah Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-fry/)

> [I will never pretend like I did not come from Bachelor Nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-brown/i-will-never-pretend-like-i-did-not-come-from-bachelor-nation/)

[Hannah Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-brown/)

> [In my family, graduating and getting your bachelor's is just the beginning. It's only expected. You're underachieving if you don't strive for more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-brogdon/in-my-family-graduating-and-getting-your-bachelor-s-is-just-the/)

[Malcolm Brogdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-brogdon/)

> [I've been doing 'The Bachelor' long enough that I don't really care whose feathers I ruffle and how many waves I cause, because my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-harrison/i-ve-been-doing-the-bachelor-long-enough-that-i-don-t-really-care/)

[Chris Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-harrison/)

> [A married man is a man with a past, while a bachelor is a man with a future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/a-married-man-is-a-man-with-a-past-while-a-bachelor-is-a-man-with-a/)

[George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/)

> [A Bachelor of Arts is one who makes love to a lot of women, and yet has the art to remain a bachelor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-rowland/a-bachelor-of-arts-is-one-who-makes-love-to-a-lot-of-women-and-yet/)

[Helen Rowland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-rowland/)

> [Every Bachelor and Bachelorette says, 'I never would have dated a person like that or a person from this place.' But if you're on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-harrison/every-bachelor-and-bachelorette-says-i-never-would-have-dated-a/)

[Chris Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-harrison/)

## More by William Lashner

> [“We put the fun in dysfunction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lashner/we-put-the-fun-in-dysfunction/)

[William Lashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lashner/)

> [“We were, all of us, prisoners of our character, unable to alter our true inner natures. When we said we had changed, what had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lashner/we-were-all-of-us-prisoners-of-our-character-unable-to-alter-our-true/)

[William Lashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lashner/)

> [I try to write stories that are thrilling and full of mystery and funny all at the same time, stories that raise moral questions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lashner/i-try-to-write-stories-that-are-thrilling-and-full-of-mystery-and/)

[William Lashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lashner/)

> [If he ever had a bright idea it would be beginner's luck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lashner/if-he-ever-had-a-bright-idea-it-would-be-beginner-s-luck/)

[William Lashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lashner/)

> [“Unlike the rest of you, I cheerfully admit to my own utter selfishness. I am self-made, self-absorbed, self-serving, self-referential, even self-deprecating, in a charming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lashner/unlike-the-rest-of-you-i-cheerfully-admit-to-my-own-utter-selfishness/)

[William Lashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lashner/)

> [“It’s all part of the bartender’s creed: make them fresh, make them cold, but most of all, if they’re a little overeager, make them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lashner/it-s-all-part-of-the-bartender-s-creed-make-them-fresh-make-them-cold/)

[William Lashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lashner/)

> [“That was part of the job, to pretend to listen, to feign concern. There are three professions who play at that game; barkeeps are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lashner/that-was-part-of-the-job-to-pretend-to-listen-to-feign-concern-there/)

[William Lashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lashner/)

> [“I received some really bad news. I’m not okay.” A bolt of terror slashed through me. She had some sort of disease, I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lashner/i-received-some-really-bad-news-i-m-not-okay-a-bolt-of-terror-slashed/)

[William Lashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lashner/)

> [“There I sat, in the wreckage of my apartment, in the wreckage of my life – no love, no prospects, a gnawing sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lashner/there-i-sat-in-the-wreckage-of-my-apartment-in-the-wreckage-of-my/)

[William Lashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lashner/)

> [“Class divisions as clear as those between Harrington and myself always bring out my best, or at least my most petty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lashner/class-divisions-as-clear-as-those-between-harrington-and-myself/)

[William Lashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lashner/)

> [“The campus was Disney-fascist, a relentlessly upbeat place to wither and die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lashner/the-campus-was-disney-fascist-a-relentlessly-upbeat-place-to-wither/)

[William Lashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lashner/)

> [“It was still quiet at the bar, early afternoon, before the happy-hour crowd arrived with their after-work bonhomie, and even as the barkeep kept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lashner/it-was-still-quiet-at-the-bar-early-afternoon-before-the-happy-hour/)

[William Lashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lashner/)

> [“I expect to lose. I always do. And life seems eager to exceed my expectations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lashner/i-expect-to-lose-i-always-do-and-life-seems-eager-to-exceed-my/)

[William Lashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lashner/)

> [“Everyone has something to teach you, Duddleman, if you can bear to stay quiet enough to listen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lashner/everyone-has-something-to-teach-you-duddleman-if-you-can-bear-to-stay/)

[William Lashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lashner/)

> [“Life is unbearably perverse; that which we most seek to avoid always becomes unavoidable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lashner/life-is-unbearably-perverse-that-which-we-most-seek-to-avoid-always/)

[William Lashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lashner/)

[Explore all 57 William Lashner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lashner/)

## More About quotes

> [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/)

[Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/)

> [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/)

[Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/)

> [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/)

[Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/)

> [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/)

[Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/)

> [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/)

[Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/)

> [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/)

[Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/)

> [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/)

[Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/)

> [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/)

[Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/)

> [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/)

[Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/)

> [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/)

[Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/)

> [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/)

[John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/)

> [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/)

[Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/)

Browse all 26,122 About quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I don't trust novels with points, do you? If a novel is only about a point, the writer should just say it in as few words as possible so we can take it in and go back to watching 'The Bachelor' on television.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "William Lashner"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lashner/i-don-t-trust-novels-with-points-do-you-if-a-novel-is-only-about-a/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "About"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lashner/i-don-t-trust-novels-with-points-do-you-if-a-novel-is-only-about-a/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae2/william-lashner-11715_about_i-don-t-trust-novels-with-points-do-you_1345092.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae2/william-lashner-11715_about_i-don-t-trust-novels-with-points-do-you_1345092.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae2/william-lashner-11715_about_i-don-t-trust-novels-with-points-do-you_1345092.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I don't trust novels with points, do you? If a novel is only about a point, the writer should just say it in…” — William Lashner",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "William Lashner",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lashner/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I don't trust novels with points,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lashner/i-don-t-trust-novels-with-points-do-you-if-a-novel-is-only-about-a/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lashner/i-don-t-trust-novels-with-points-do-you-if-a-novel-is-only-about-a/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
