After college, I went on a real big classics kick. Read everything by Faulkner, Hemingway, Woolf, Proust, Dostoevsky. And that classics train dropped me off at 'Dracula.' Halfway through it, I understood I'd never be going back, never 'leaving' the genre again. Since then, I've been on a fairly strict horror diet.

In this quote, Josh Malerman reflects on his journey as a reader and how his literary tastes evolved over time. After college, he went on a “real big classics kick,” diving into works by renowned authors like Faulkner, Hemingway, Woolf, Proust, and Dostoevsky. This period of reading the literary classics introduced him to the depth and complexity of some of the greatest works of fiction. However, his literary journey took an unexpected turn when he encountered Dracula, which marked a pivotal moment in his reading life.

Malerman explains that while reading Dracula, he realized that he was drawn to a new genre: horror. The quote reflects his epiphany that he had found a genre that resonated with him deeply, stating that he would "never be going back" to the classics. The use of the term "horror diet" suggests that, since that moment, Malerman has focused primarily on horror, feeding his literary interests exclusively within that genre. His transition from classic literature to horror shows how our tastes can evolve based on exposure to new types of storytelling.

The origin of this quote lies in Malerman's career as a writer, especially known for his horror novels like Bird Box. His appreciation for horror as a genre, which started with reading Dracula, is central to his creative work. By recounting his personal experience with literature, Malerman highlights the transformative power of reading and how it shapes an individual's tastes and future creative endeavors. His deep dive into horror signifies a shift from academic, classic works to a genre that allowed him to explore darker, more imaginative themes.

Ultimately, Malerman’s quote underscores the idea that literature is not static and that exploring different genres can lead to new passions and creative directions. His journey from classic literature to horror exemplifies how discovering a genre that speaks to you can profoundly influence both your reading and writing choices.