A purpose isn't a purpose without an expected outcome.

So, Why do you want to know the story?
Why do you want to expand your volcabuary? (what makes you think a Novel can help you do that?)
Why do you want to get the emotions?

Your answers would motivate you but as is they are, wouldn't move me. In fact I find they would casue me to procastiate.

Get the story - (sounds like teacher instructrions) first reaction... I'll watch the movie.

Expand my vocabulary, from a novel???? The average person knows and gets by on 5000 words in a language. What word in the novel from the Authors selection did s/he us that is so different to the vocabulary I already use. Now if it were in a second language I am studying. Why an I studying the language?

To get the emotions... again easier from the movie why bother?

If the novel was imposed by school, your statements might represent the important aspects of why to read the novel but still lacks your desired out come.

Now if the novel just happened to be in a language I am learning and I generally liked reading novels for fun and just wanted to improve my confidence in that language because I'm travelling to the country where that language is native. I'd want to simply enjoy reading the novel with a secondary benefit of enhancing my language skill.

Alex