F Kermode and L C Knights were both Cambridge men.
Professor Kermode said a test of a novel was whether it was worth reading again.
Professor Knights said a test of a novel was whether he walked more in the world after reading it.
What do you think defines a good novel?
Do I care about the characters? Does their world come alive for me? Do I want to know what happens in the end before I get there (enough to cheat)?
It's not so much whether it's worth reading again as whether I can read it again and not give up halfway because I've learned nothing new. A good novel will always have surprises in store no matter how often I read it.
A really good book will tempt me to sit down and read a chapter when I'm meant to be doing other things - and then I'll read three because one's not enough.
I think what is a good novel to one person... well you can see where I'm going with that stream of thought. For me it is no more than did I believe the unbelievable (only in the moment of reading of course) and did I want more. I'm a simple man so a simple answer is all I can offer.
Paul G