Oh, let's see...to begin with, as much as I love science fiction and some subgenres of fantasy, I read more non-fiction than fiction. I don't know if I read it because that's mostly what I write, or if that's mostly what I write because it is mostly what I read. It's one of those chicken/egg things, I suppose. And I'll read almost any subject, although my favorites are history, science, anthropology/archaeology, religious studies (from an academic point of view, rather than from a devotional point of view) and political science.
As far as fiction (aside from sf/fantasy) goes, I don't read that much mainstream fiction. I'm much more likely to read mainstream fiction if it touches on one of my non-fiction interests. For example, I recently read a mainstream novel called Resurrection because it a) had archaeologists in it, b) was set in the past (post-WW II), and c) had to do with the Nag Hammadi texts. It also helps if it has some quasi-sf/fantasy aspect, such as The Time Traveler's Wife, which was one of the best books I read last year.
I like mysteries and police procedurals, but I'm particular about which ones I read and mostly stick to certain authors...I like Faye Kellerman, Jonathan Kellerman, Kathy Reichs (in whose books anthropology/archaeology is a key aspect), Stephen White, and Robert B. Parker (but only his "Spencer" novels). Oh, and Tony Hillerman and his novels about Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn. Some Native Americans have issues with his depiction of Indian culture and characters, but I guess since I'm not a Native American I don't see the problem, and I quite like those books of his that I've read. Every once in awhile I'll happen on a new writer who gets added to the list, but not often.
Romance...meh. I read a lot of what we called "gothics" back in high school, writers like Victoria Holt, but I outgrew those sometime during high school. I do like books in which there are romantic relationships, but not often novels that are part of the "romance" genre. I discovered Kage Baker's "Company" novels when I picked up the first one and thought it sounded interesting because it was an odd combination of romance novel, historical novel, and science fiction.
I'm not even really sure what "chick-lit" consists of. Is Bridget Jones' Diary an example? I liked the movie, but never was able to finish the book.
Horror is another genre that I'm very picky about. Love Stephen King, although I haven't read many of his new things simply because I haven't gotten around to them. And I love Clive Barker (what did somebody say earlier about him..."fun and twisted"...he is that. Although I couldn't read The Great and Secret Show because he didn't do his homework as far as I was concerned...he used the name of the place I grew up as a location but didn't get the geography right, which ticked me off horribly. I've read some Dean Koontz and like some of his books, but I don't pick his work up on a regular basis.
I've never read a western. Well, I did read one Louis L'Amour novel, but that was The Haunted Mesa, which was set in contemporary times and is actually a fantasy novel...there's time and/or interdimensional travel involved.
Adventure is fun, and I'm fairly well addicted to Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt novels, despite the inherent sexism in some of them, especially the earlier stories.
I could go on...don't worry, I won't. I guess it all boils down to the fact that I'll give almost any genre a try, but I'm sometimes very difficult to please.
