The problem with classics, is that there seems to be a conspiracy of the whole educational system to make every child hate them. I was good at school and I liked it on the whole, but it still did a good job of ruining some authors for me.
I had to study a play by Molière every single year for 6 years. And then one day, I saw a performance (a good one for a change). It was a revelation. I had no idea Molière could actually be enjoyable!!! Years of forced admiration for the "comique de répétition" in "mais qu'allait-il donc faire dans cette galère" will do that to you.
(Note for the non-French speakers: don't ask, it's just too painful to relive those old memories
)