Introduce a novel with an indirect quotation or paraphrase. Make sure to underline or italicize the title of the novel. Mention the novel, followed by a summary of its relevant ideas, as follows: "In the novel 'The Great Gatsby,' F. Scott Fitzgerald illustrates the futility of trying to create something from nothing."
Introduce a novel by quoting it directly. This method is appropriate when you are commenting on a specific part of a novel, or if a relevant quotation can help solidify the argument of your paper. Set up the context for the quotation before including it after a comma, as follows: "In 'The Great Gatsby,' Nick Carraway provides a dose of reality when he says, 'You can't repeat the past.'"
Follow your paraphrase or direct quotation with a citation of the page number. Include it in parentheses after the quotation mark, if you use one, and before the period. Write the author's last name, followed by a space, followed by the page number: "In 'The Great Gatsby,' Nick Carraway provides a dose of reality when he says, 'You can't repeat the past'" (Fitzgerald 87).