How to analyse a novel?

[Celeste de Kai]

I've been reading a lot of novels lately and I would like to write about what I've read in an eloquent and presentable manner.

However since I haven't written any real essays for a rather long time I'm a bit rusty and don't know where to start, beyond stating something banal like "The plot was good and I enjoyed it."

Can anyone suggest how I can analyse a novel and write about it?

[MartinP]

Have you done a google search for info about analysing novels? Or an Amazon search for books?
Have you read other book reviews? e.g in the newspaper or on Amazon

Plus, I think this sort of thing requires lots of practice. Keep writing. At the beginning your analysis will be forced and sound lame, but as you keep practicing, it will get better and better and you will find your own style.

[Holistic Star]

Reading Group Guides have guides of questions to ask yourself or discuss for 1000 books.

ReadingGroupGuides.com

and if they haven't written a guide yet, there are generic questions you can ask yourself.

ReadingGroupGuides.com - When No Guide is Available

hope that helps

[alainplus]

You can't "analyze" a novel. Although some people may sharply disagree, I believe all you can do with fiction is put out your interpretation of it.

I recommend:
Beginning Theory by Peter Barry. Aparently Amazon has a cliffnotes book.

The book offers the main theoritical frameworks under which literary theorists work under.

also Deconstructions: A User Guide: Edited by Nicholas Royle.
basically a series of essays showing a particular theory being used.


I also recommend:
Revising Prose by Richard Lanham.

for obvious reasons. To be eloquent, you just need to read people who write eloquently. By read, I mean pour all your free time into reading. You need to expose yourself to good writing in order to produce decent stuff. Browse Amazon.com listmanias for good reads.