I prefer to read things that I want my own writing to be like. I'm often very inspired by whatever I'm reading at the time, and subconciously I'll begin to write in that genre.
I like to challenge myself as far as writing is concerned, trying new styles and stories I've never done or I'd like to do more often. As I grow older, my subject matter does get darker, but I personally love to laugh, and so there's always a bit of comedy in everything I read and write.