My reading has certainly evolved over the years. I’m an avid fiction reader and a lot of my favorite books historically are written by white men - I think a lot of that has to do with what was published historically. I have a penchant for the doorstopper and most of my favorites fall into that category (Pynchon, DFW, Gaddis, Bolaño etc). But that has changed a lot in recent years largely due to the wealth of translated fiction that is available and continuing to be published and more widely available. To answer your question, the primary function that fiction serves (for me) is building empathy towards human experience, and reading translated fiction (by both men and women) is a rich and rewarding way to do that. There is so much good writing out there! I’m interested in “real” characters. A good writer writes what they know and have experienced and doesn’t try to appropriate someone else’s experience, I truly believe we can sense that in writing - does it feel honest and authentic? So I make an effort to read as widely as possible. A bit rambly, but I love reading and talking about fiction so I appreciate the question.