Wait, you were in a book club but actively avoided the classics until now? That's wild. The debate must have gotten pretty heated to finally break through. What book was it that changed your mind?
Was the debate mostly about why classics still matter today? I mean, sometimes you need that push to see how much stuff in old books connects to now. Idk, maybe it's just me but hearing others argue for them can totally flip your view.
Hang on, @keith195, you were in a book club and dodged the classics the whole time? That's like joining a band and refusing to play the guitar. What finally got you to crack one open?