For AP Language and Composition, I was required to read 3 books during the summer. Two, Seabiscuit and Heart of Darkness, were required, while one, Sense and Sensibility, I chose. Reading for an AP course should be something which causes students to not only read, but to think about what they are reading. The story should engage their minds and force them to think on a different level, and of different subjects, than they are used to. After reading three books this summer, it is evident to me that Heart of Darkness is the best choice for an AP course.
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad is the story of a man's journey up the Congo. Ingrained in every element of the story are traces of man's corruption, and evidence that the "heart of darkness" is within man, not the wilderness. The book explores human nature, evils, and even racism. However, to realize this, the reader is forced to think harder. Perhaps on first glance, students may not catch all the subtleties and deeper meaning held within the book, which is what makes it great for an AP course. Students are forced to think about what they are reading, which is so necessary in the world we live in today, where we tend to let the media think for us. Also, the exploration of human nature in Heart of Darkness H would allow for wonderful class discussion and analyzation, a large component of any AP English course.
It is also important that students be exposed to different styles of writing. Seabiscuit was written in a simple biographical format, and Sense and Sensibility was written in the style of most books, with a plotline that resembled many bad soap-operas. Heart of Darkness, however, was written in a style which not many students are used to. It is good that we should read this book, because it will broadens our horizons and teaches us to respect more styles and types of writing, even if we don't necessarily like them.
While Heart of Darkness was certainly not my favorite summer reading book, I do believe that it was the most suited book for an AP course.