Answer: use your own experiences to better understand characters, events, and ideas.
When reading a novel, it is often useful to try to make personal connections to the text. This means trying to connect the characters, events and ideas in the text with those that you have had experience with. This can help you understand the story better. It can also help with understanding the characters' motivations and reactions. Finally, it is likely that a novel you can connect to will prove to be more interesting and enjoyable.