Though you might have the urge to speed read through the material and look for the main ideas, you shouldn't. Complex texts involve serious reading and main ideas aren't usually found by glancing through the material. While reading your assignment you should take your time, reread anything that is complex and ask yourself what certain paragraphs, stanzas, speech or chapters might mean. By doing this you will be able to sort out the main ideas of the material and understand what you are reading more clearly. It is also helpful to make lists of main ideas in a note pad. While reading, note pages and paragraphs in the book that back up that main idea.
Though it may seem time consuming to read a book with such thought and seriousness it is possible to do so and still have time for everything else in your busy schedule. Get a head start by compiling your materials beforehand. Take a look at the author's main idea and glance over the articles that she used to support their ideas. Also, try researching the time period the author is writing from to better understand what he is trying to say and if he has made his point clearly enough. Lastly, try reading out loud. This may help to really connect with what the writer is trying to convey.
Once you have gone through the reading closely you will need to decide on an argument. With this comes an important key in AP English Literature, which is the research, because you will need evidence to back up the argument you make.
The Internet is one great source of research materials. Here you can find biographical information on the writer, brief summaries of work and possibly some bibliographies of sources related to your topic. Next, you will want to head to your library and find information from journal articles and scholarly books. The library's online catalogue and the MLA Periodical Index will be helpful for this.