First, start with simple novels. You don't want to be bogged down by difficult language right away. Second, keep a dictionary handy. When you come across a new word, look it up immediately. Third, try to read out loud sometimes. This helps with pronunciation.
Reading English stories helps with cultural understanding. You get to know about different cultures, traditions and ways of thinking. For instance, reading a story set in Victorian England gives you insights into that era. It also improves reading comprehension skills which are essential for various English language tests. Moreover, it can inspire creativity as you are exposed to different plotlines and characters.
It helps in vocabulary expansion. As you read, you come across new words which you can learn. For instance, in a mystery story, you might find words like 'clue' or 'suspicious' in context.
It helps with understanding grammar better. In a story, grammar is used in a natural way, not just as rules. You can see how tenses, for example, are used to tell a story over time.
Reading stories exposes you to different writing styles. Some stories may be written in a very descriptive way, while others are more concise. By experiencing these different styles, you can develop your own writing skills in English as well.
Well, it can improve your reading comprehension skills. When you read novels, you have to follow the plot, understand the characters, and make sense of different events. This makes you better at understanding complex texts in general. Moreover, reading novels for English learning can expose you to different writing styles. Some novels might have a very descriptive style, while others are more dialogue - based. This exposure can help you develop your own writing style in English later.
One benefit is vocabulary expansion. Stories often contain a rich variety of words in context, which helps you remember new words more easily. Another advantage is improving comprehension skills. You learn to understand different sentence structures and the flow of the language. Also, it can enhance cultural understanding as stories may be set in different English - speaking cultures.