I've read plenty of good books from both genres, and I've noticed a big difference between male and female writers. I've found that female writers write more emotional stories. They want to draw the reader into a love story, or something that deeply impacts the main character. Their descriptions are accurate, too. Male writers seem like they write more suspenseful novels. I've also noticed they write more, but less description. What I mean is that they like writing about scenery, but they give you just enough description where they let you fill in the blanks, so that the story is more fitting to each individual reader. So when people say that "there isn't a difference between male and female authors", but they couldn't be further from the truth.
I think that after the Tamora Pierce came out with all of her series' about female warriors, more authors write about stronger women. I guess the Twilight series added to this as well. Who wants a strong women and wimpy men in every book they read? It'd get boring after a while, don't you think?
But trends come and go. A decade ago, barely anyone would sign a woman writer, now it's all they do. It's like this vampire craze that everyone is hyped about. (I don't know about you, but I'm sick of the word: vampire whenever I walk into a bookstore nowadays) Eventually the hype will die out and publishers will move onto the next best thing. The publishing business is like the fashion business. They have to keep up with the consumers, otherwise they won't sell and get money. Sure, it might not be fair, but that's life. They have to do what's right for the business.
As for me, I read anything that pops out on a bookshelf. I know it's not right to judge a book by its cover, but seriously, who doesn't? You can't tell me, you walk into a bookstore and pick out the most boring-looking bookcover and read the back flap, right? I go for the most exciting looking book, not the author, the genre, or who the main protagonist is.
