Discussion: Does it really matter if we read the classics?

The Forefront crew gathers to discuss the classics: what are they, does it matter if we read them, and how do we read them well? Spoiler alert; here are the ones that made the draft list at the end: Pride and Prejudice Little Women Treasure Island The Grapes of Wrath The Lord of the Rings A Tale of Two Cities The Metamorphosis  The Odyssey Things Fall Apart The Count of Monte Cristo Anna Karenina The Joy Luck Club The Great Gatsby  Charlotte's Web The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn