What is the ruling on reading literary novels, especially foreign ones that may contain some minor Sharia-违背 (violations), given that the reader is not influenced by them and is careful to avoid reading passages that mention these violations? And what is the general principle when selecting any novel to read?

There is no objection to reading Arab and foreign novels and books on the histories of other nations for entertainment or reflection, as long as they do not contain Sharia prohibitions such as intellectual deviations or the embellishment of behavioral transgressions. The reader should also avoid any violations if they are present. Despite this, it is better to abstain from all of that in order to utilize one's time for what benefits them in their religion and worldly life.