Reading for Writers

Gary Smailes (BubbleCow) recently posted his list of seven books every writer should read, which included 'any Mills and Boon' as well as Dan Brown (The Da Vinci Code), Bram Stoker's Dracula and a Harry Potter. Which got me thinking. What kind books are most use to an aspiring author and why? The obvious answer is simple: any books of quality. You can always learn from the masters, and Gary makes the point that - as a writer - you're not (just) reading them for pleasure. His choices were also...