<p>My AP class is supposed to be reading The Invisible Man right now, which I find not only depraved at times, but I dislike the writing style immensely (our invisible young man seems to be the only sane person in a world of chaos and it just bothers me). The teacher said we can switch to a different book if we don't feel comfortable reading it. What I am asking is does anybody suggest sticking it out because it will be a common book in college english classes? Or, do you think Pride and Prejudice would be a better book to read? She isn't planning to cover any of Jane Austen even though she loves P&P, and I have never actually been taught any Jane Austen, so I would like to get her most popular novel covered before college. Which do you reccomend? The Inv. Man or P&P?</p>
<p>how can you dislike the writing style when you don't have a handle on english grammar</p>
<p>Go for Austen...I hate Wells with a fiery passion that burns deep within my soul. OVERRATED.</p>
<p>Austen will most likely be covered in some form or another in any British Lit class you take in college. Even if you aren't assigned Pride and Prejudice, it will be good preparation because all of her novels (and similar novels like the Brontes') are similar.</p>
<p>Are you talking about THE Invisible Man or Invisible Man? Because if its the latter by Ralph Ellison, I would really suggest you stick to that. It has so much more "literary merit" (in my personal opinion at least, maybe it's just because I don't really like Jane Austen's writings) than Pride and Prejudice--it is sooo rich and you can learn a lot from it. But if its the Invisible Man by HG Wells, I'd say switching to P&P is fine.</p>
<p>Obviously it's your choice in the end though.</p>
<p>^
Good point. Now that I reread the OP, I think he's referring to Ellison. If he is, it depends on your point of view. If you like reading about a person's struggle to find an identity/recognition, problems with society, etc., it's an excellent and thought-provoking book (although I suspect he borrowed heavily from Joyce). If you prefer frivolous, happy-ending books, Austen would be better.</p>
<p>If you like reading class divisions, status, marriages and victorian society - go with austen... bronte... </p>
<p>"A fine disposition!"</p>
<p>Yeah it is Ellison's Invisible Man. My problem is I have had to do most of my reading myself because until my AP English Lit class this year, none of my teachers in high school gave us anything to read. The only actual book I read FOR an english class between Freshman and Junior year is To Kill A Mockingbird, which I loved. However, I was doing Sense and Sensibility and The Catcher in the Rye, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and such all before this year to supplement. But I have never been taught a Jane Austen book and I think it is important I get a little more Victorian teachings in. I think Invisible Man is something you can understand by reading your history book. Besides, I can listen to the class' discussions on it and know what is going on and still do a separate reading like P&P.</p>
<p>Get yourself some prep books bashful. </p>
<p>It's not so much about how MUCH you read but if you can analyze and take something from what you read. </p>
<p>I suggest finding a copy of the Norton Anthology of Literature to get an idea of a survey of literature. Eventually, and likely, in college, you will come across the textbook.</p>
<p>While you're at it, get a copy of Strunk and White's The Elements of Style since you're concerned about your poor English dept.</p>
<p>Why don't you read what your supposed to read for class and read P&P outside of class? I really don't understand why you would choose not to read a book along with the rest of an AP class.</p>
<p>"The teacher said we can switch to a different book if we don't feel comfortable reading it."</p>
<p>Besides, our teacher hates the book too and practically tried to convince us to switch. She said there's incest and violence and it's practically R-rated, if not NC-17, and if our parents think we shouldn't read it and so on . . . . She only picked it because it tends to come up a lot on the AP Test. Well, I think Austen might come up a lot too. And I want at least one Austen book, or similar covered before college, but it is not planned. I would at least like to discuss P&P with my teacher and do a paper on it and perhaps some interps.</p>
<p>Besides, Brit Lit is more interesting than Amer. Lit. Which is not an excuse, just an attempt to convince myself that I definitely don't want to read Invisible Man.</p>
<p>Hmm okay... temporary band-aid. Be open to American lit... you'll miss out on a lot.</p>
<p>don't read anything. just get the sparknotes. hence, what i'm doing for my 1984 project due on monday.</p>
<p>I read Invisible Man for Lit Honors in 11th grade and thought (along with much of my class) that it was the best book we read that year. While I don't remember any incest, I do agree it is violent, surreal, and disturbing. It's supposed to be that way. In fact, it would ruin the message of the book if weren't. It was uncomfortable to read at times, but that just signifies the writing is effective and is doing its job because racism is not a pleasant subject, but a disturbing one. In fact, how pleasant a book is does not have anything to do with it's merit. I'm kind of disappointed that your teacher doesn't like it because it might be rated R. </p>
<p>You could probably get more out of IM than P and P, but P and P is definitely possible to write a meaningful essay dealing with British social hierarchy for the AP exam. It's much tamer, but reputed to have a really, really, boring middle section, but a nice ending. If you decide on IM, read some literary criticism to go along with it.</p>