I will be completely honest, it was hard for me to get reading this summer. However, once I began I found rewarding books that are important to read and know. Because I came into AP from English 10 I read three books for the assignment: The Crucible by Arthur Miller, The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Although each was different from the next, it feels good to read more high level novels.
The Scarlet Letter was the one novel that I did not admire having chosen to read. Hawthorne's writing was stilted language copmplicated comprehension. Although I know what is meant, I always stumble when I come across words such as "thou" and "thine." The punishment used for adultery in the book is nothing similar to what would be carried out today. This made the characters hard to relate to. Hester, the protaganist, is condemned to wear a scarlet "A" on her clothing at all times whereas adultery has become a commonplace action in today's society. Therefore, on a scale of one to ten, I would rank this book as a four. Although it is a classic novel to have "under your belt," it is a difficult and tedious read.
As for Arthur Miller, he kept my attention for most of The Crucible. I find it fascinating to have a bird's eye view of the politics that went into accusations of the Salem witch trials. It was equally interesting to see how quick the characters are to blame abnormalities on "black magic" and "witchcraft." In my eyes, The Crucilbe deserves a six rating. It is more interesting than The Scarlet Letter and although they share an equally juicy and tangled plot, The Crucible is does not put the reader to sleep.
Of the three, my favorite read was The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald does an absolutely brilliant job in this book. The characters are mysterious which makes them exciting to read about yet they are realistic enough to keep the reader from rolling their eyes. I thoroughly enjoyed the plot and it was interesting to see how the theme "what goes around comes around" played a role in the ending. I read this book the fastest and wanted more once I had finished. The Great Gatsby kept me hooked and my curiosity peaked. I would rate this book as an eight. Although it was not the best book I have ever read, it was enjoyable and mystifiying.
Even though it was hard to begin the summer assignment, I am well rewarded for reading these novels and am anticipating more excellent reads this coming year!