A Lesson Before Dying or Crime & Punishment?

[Rmmc]

For an AP assignment, we have a list of books to choose from to write an essay on and I've narrowed it down to these two because they seem interesting.

Essay question: British novelist Laurence Sterne wrote, “Nobody, but he who has felt it, can conceive what a plaguing thing it is to have a man’s mind torn asunder by two projects of equal strength, both obstinately pulling in a contrary direction at the same time.” Choose a character (not necessarily the protagonist) whose mind is pulled in conflicting directions by compelling desires, ambitions, obligations, or influences.  Then, in a well-organized essay, identify each of the two conflicting forces and explain how this conflict within one character illuminates the meaning of the work as a whole.

What book would you recommend? Which one did you like best, why? Crime and Punishment I know is quite lengthy so I'm a bit worried I won't have time to finish (essay is due in the middle of summer, not when school starts) but I could manage if it's good. Would a Lesson Before Dying give enough material for the essay?
Im new with this site so idk if this is okay. Heh. Thanks in advance!