Reading Moods

Are you able to pick up a book of any genre (that you would normally read) and begin reading at any time, or does the genre need to match your mood of the moment?

I think I'm a little in between. If it has been a while since I have read a book (which doesn't happen very often), I can just pick anything up and immediately become engrossed. However, if I have been reading steadily, I actually have a problem *switching* genres. For instance, over the weekend I read Black Creek Crossing by John Saul. He is an author that I love and I have every book he has ever written. When I finished Black Creek, I was immediately craving more of his writing. Luckily, I did have a book of his that I had never gotten around to reading, so in the last two days I have read Nightshade. Now I have a problem. Since I finished Nightshade today, I don't have anything of his left and his new book The Perfect Nightmare doesn't release until September.

Of course, I do know what is next on my list: Second Glance by Jodi Picoult. It will just take me a couple of days to let go of Mr. Saul before I can completely immerse in my new book.

I am VERY author loyal. Once I find an author that I like, I will read everything they write. My list of favorite authors (and my favorite book of theirs) includes:
Jodi Picoult - My Sister's Keeper
John Saul - Manhattan Hunt Club
Nicholas Sparks - The Notebook
Erich Segal - The Class
Colleen McCullough - A Creed For The Third millennium
LaVyrle Spencer - Years
A. Manette Ansay - Midnight Champagne

I have a plastic tub under my bed full of books that I want to read. I can't resist buying new books even though I have a stack that I still need to read. My bucket includes everything from A Separate Peace by John Knowles (yes, I know I was supposed to read this in high school, but I never did) to The tattooed Girl by Joyce Carol Oates.

I think I would be very sad if I ever opened that tub and didn't have anything new in there to read. Oh well...that would be a great excuse to head to Borders!