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Book: Candy Freak by Steve Almond

Rating: 7/10

Summary:

Candy Freak by Steve Almond is a peculiar story of a man's journey to discover new kinds of candy, to put it simply. During his journey, he tours multiple candy factories and talks to many people within the field in search of information for his book. It didn't really have much of a plot- just endless rambling about candies that the author wished were still made, how bad their substitutes were. or how much he hated certain candies. Although the book is rather boring as a story, the humor was just the kind of humor I enjoyed.

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A lesson the reader could take away from the book Candy Freak by Steve Almond is to accept change.

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The ending of Candy Freak was effective in pulling the events of the story together.

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On the same visit to a Necco factory that Steve had the Thin Mints, Manny also offered him a couple of Clark bars. These are the two candies that he seemed most fascinated with.
Picture source: candyfavorites.com

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During a visit to a Necco factory, Steve seemed to express the most interest in the thin mints. The guy he was touring with, named Manny, even offered him a couple of thin mints fresh off the conveyor belt.
Picture source: candyblog.net

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As Steve lists his "MWM (mistakes were made) Candies," Twizzlers seemed to be the candy he expressed the most hatred for.
Picture source: mentalfloss.com

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Before the 100 Grand, there was something much better- The Caravelle bar. Steve describes the Caravelle bar in this book like it's some kind of deity,  while he talks about the 100 grand like its just the Caravelle's cheap knockoff. Of all candies described in this book, Steve seemed the most upset over the discontinuation of this candy.

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While many people today think the only products made by The Peter Paul Company (now a division of the Hershey company since 1988) are the famous Almond Joy and Mounds bars, that isn't true. They offered other kinds too, but a much smaller variety than competitors Hershey, M&M/Mars and Nestle. Being 4th ran against these giants made them that way.

Caravelle was introduced in the early '70s to compete with the similar Nestle's $100,000 bar (known the 100 Grand bar since the mid-'80s). But whereas the $100,000 bar tastes processed and is kind of rubbery, Caravelle was lighter and sweeter tasting.

They also had this famous TV commercial with an earworm jingle. I remember seeing this frequently when I was growing up in the '70s.

Caravelle was discontinued in 1988.

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While many people today think the only products made by The Peter Paul Company (now a division of the Hershey company since 1988) are the famous Almond Joy and Mounds bars, that isn't true. They offered other kinds too, but a much smaller variety than competitors Hershey, M&M/Mars and Nestle.

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If Steve found this website that sells old/vintage candy (hopefully the candy itself isn't ACTUALLY from their time, or if so I hope they're at least not meant for eating), it is almost guaranteed that he'd be squealing with joy.

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Old Fashioned and Retro Candy - Home of Candy you ate as a kid®

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Shop Old Fashioned and Retro Candy from the 1950s, 60s, 70s, 80s & today - still available after all these years. You're never too old for a childhood memory. Free Shipping on orders of $250 or more.

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This seems like the kind of website Steve would be running-
A candy review site.
This is essentially the contemporary, computerized embodiment of this book.

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Candy Blog: Photos and reviews of candy from around the world. Open your mouth, expand your mind.

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S'more are really about a whole immersion into the process of making them and then eating them hot. Reducing them to the neat and tidy candy coated morsels takes most of the risk away (no one gets burned, no one messes up any clothes) and also all the challenge.

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Towards the beginning of the book, Steve visits a Necco factory and witnesses the making of the classic Necco wafers. This video gives us just part of what he experienced while there.

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How Necco Wafers are Made, Featured by The Chew!

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It is hard to decide if this would be Steve or if he would be shaking his head solemnly at this guy's pointless squandering of all of that candy. Why throw around that much candy and eat so little of it?

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a lot of candy , refrigerator full of sweets

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a lot of candy , a lot of sweets full of sweets

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These kids' reactions seem similar to the reaction Steve would have as a kid if he came home from school one day to discover that his mom had thrown out his entire candy stash.

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YouTube Challenge - I Told My Kids I Ate All Their Halloween Candy 2015