See, I'm in two minds. I hated most of the books I was forced to read at school for this very reason, I think the main problem was that you couldn't just read the book at your leisure and enjoy it, you had to read at a pace you maybe weren't comfortable with and then had to pour over it in such depth that left you resenting the book and it all gets rather tedious.
However if it's a book that's been recommended to you by a friend then generally I think that I enjoy it, I know I don't recommend books to people unless I genuinely feel they'll enjoy it so I'd hope my friends take the same care when the recommend books to me so I often discover real gems. Also being able to read at your own pace and leisure and not having to sit and dissect every passage for weeks after you're finished helps.
Emelee, I think your idea of providing a list that students can pick and choose from is a smashing idea, wish my English teachers were this inventive.