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Algonquin Books
May 2004
280 pages
ISBN: 1565124219
Hardcover
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Non-Fiction
Driven by his obsession, stubborn idealism, and the promise
of free candy, self-confessed candyfreak Steve Almond takes
off on a quest to discover candy's origins in America, to
explore the little companies that continue to get by on
pluck and perseverance, and to witness the glorious excess
of candy manufacturing. From the Twin Bing to the Idaho Spud, the Valomilk to the
Abba-Zaba, Almond uncovers a small legion of singular
handcrafted candy bars made by unsung heroes, working in
old-fashioned factories for tiny profits to produce
something that they love. Fascinated by the emotional power
of these confectionary delights, the primal and persuasive
experience of the world in our mouths, Almond describes our
candy cravings in sensuous and titillating detail. Though
the road is laden with free samples, he discovers that the
world of candy making is not the sweet world of childhood
reveries but one beleaguered by stiff competition, closely
guarded secrets, and increasingly limited markets. But no
matter. As he also finds, every candy maker, even when
poised on the edge of failure, is happy, indulgent, and
childlike. For finally, even the darkest market forces, even
the clout of the Big Three candy companies that threaten to
wipe out all others, cannot lessen our desire to lose
ourselves in chocolate. Candyfreak is the bittersweet story of how Steve
Almond grew up on candy--and how, for better and worse,
candy has grown up, too. Almond gives us a hilarious,
sugar-high tour of those old-fashioned candy companies.
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