Which book should I read?

Question

I need to read a book for AP English. My choices are:

All My Sons
All the King's men
All the Pretty Horses
Beloved
The Bridge of Sab Luis Bay
Crime and Punishment
Cry, The Beloved Country
David Copperfield
A Death in the family
The Grapes of Wrath
Great Expectations
Light in August
Look Homeward, Angel
Native Son

Which book should I read and Why? Or what book should I not read? Please give reasons!

I am going to be a senior.

To comment to weemaryann (is there an e at the end? sorry) We are required to read 4, but we get to choose our last one. I'm going to read any of them recommended to me I think, I'm a huge bookworm!

Answer 1

Well, there are so many good one listed.. I'd definitely go with Light in August. I just recently revisited it after many years and it was an excellent read, as matter of fact I had a hard time putting it down.

I liked it for a few reasons, I like Faulkner, The story is of the American South in the midst of the Great Depression . I have family members who were there and lived so it''s sort of my history and I feel connected to the story. I can also empathize with the main Character Lena. Lena is a young girl on her own , having lost her family and now finds herself pregnant. The story is timeless, it could be set today and still be a great read.

MeOw!

Answer 2

Crime and Punishment. It's a really good book. It's a little odd at first if you aren't used to reading Russian literature, but you'll get into it. It's basically about the idea that some people are worth more than others. Is it okay to kill a rich mean old woman who is near death, and give her money to the neady? Means to an end sort of idea. It's interesting and thought provoking, I think you should read it.

Answer 3

Go with Grapes of Wrath, it is classic and pretty easy-to-read. Plus there is a movie to compare it to, you could compare the text to the film in your paper. It is about a family in the Great Depression.

DONT go with Crime and Punishment..very looooong and tedious. Good book though, but not an easy read. It takes place in Russia which also makes it complicated, since usually ppl don't know too much about Russia.

Answer 4

I was a big fan of Charles Dickens, so I would have chosen David Copperfield or Great Expectations. For you, I might recommend The Grapes of Wrath, which is about as American as they get. The story of what is was like for my grandparents during the Depression. You will learn a lot about the history of your country.

Answer 5

Several good choices here; I'd go with The Grapes of Wrath. A good read and fills in a few gaps in your knowledge of history.

And btw, only ONE book for an AP English class? Consider yourself lucky!

Answer 6

I would recommend Native Son. Good book about race relations in the 1930s.

Answer 7

All the Kings Men came highly recommended

Answer 8

Great Expectations is a very good read, detailed characters. Crime and Punishment is also a good story, but be prepared: it gets pretty dry in some spots. Good luck!

Answer 9

Beloved is a really sad and bizarre ghost story, a great book.

Answer 10

My personal favorite from your list is Crime and Punishment. It is a very dark story about morality and power. A man plans a murder just to prove to himself (and society) that he can pull it off. It is very enlightening and can reveal a lot to you about yourself and the government you are growing up in.