I agree - some curriculums & teachers can make the reading experience really unpleasant. I had a lingering hatred of Joseph Conrad after we had to read Heart of Darkness in high school, but a few years ago I picked up several of his novels and I LOVE them & am sorry I didn’t try him again sooner. I hope more people give authors second chances after high school.

You could try just draping a sheet of Mylar over them or even hang the Mylar over the window; it’ll block the uv, but shouldn’t obscure the view too much.

You could try the Emily Wilson translations. I haven’t read them, but they’re supposedly quite modern and well-reviewed. I think they may still be in poem form though. I read the Fagles translations a few years ago and really liked them, but again, they’re in poem form and may not be as modern as you’re looking for.