Reading is a hobby for me and many others, but did you know that most people don't know how to read books? If you genuinely want to understand the novel you're reporting on, you must learn how to read it correctly. Whether you're in middle school, high school, or college, I've listed nine helpful tips for getting the most out of reading a novel. 1. Have a Purpose for Reading The first thing you need to identify before you even start reading is your purpose. Start by asking yourself why you want to read the book.