2022-2023 AP Lit/Comp Summer Reading Assignment

Part I: Reading Prose

Purchase and read the book The Secret History by Donna Tartt. Complete the assignment at this link: The Secret History Character Project.

My thoughts about The Secret History-- I’ll be completely honest with you: The Secret History has a slow start and some unlikeable characters. However, the story gets good, so don’t give up on it. Things get pretty crazy toward the end. Also, this book will be particularly useful to you to prepare for the AP Lit exam. Read the entire book, and be ready to discuss it starting on the first day of school. We will use this book extensively during the first weeks of school, so read and remember it. You will take a key line test over The Secret History during the first week of school.

Part II: Reading Poetry

This is your chance to get to know me a little better. Read my favorite contemporary poem, “Bleeding Heart” by  Carmen Giménez Smith and my favorite classic poem, “I Have Thoughts That Are Fed By the Sun” by William Wordsworth. These poems are my favorites for now, although they frequently change, as I change. What similarities do you notice in the themes of the poems? Why do you think I like them so much? What does that tell you about me? You do not have to write out the answers to these questions, but you should ponder them.

Find two poems new to you that you love. Please don’t pick poems that you have already studied in school. A good place to start is at the Poetry Marketplace Padlet that I made, linked here. And if you are not a “poetry person,” then find two poems that express a feeling or experience that you can relate with.

Create a document with the names and authors of the poems you select, then type a brief explanation of why you selected them.

Part III: Writing

Read my letter to you here, then write me a letter that you will deliver to me the first week of school. The instructions can be found in my letter to you.

Please email me if you have any questions over the summer at beth.gordon@henry.k12.ga.us and I’ll be happy to answer any questions.

Have a great summer!!