Nov 14, 20 candy freak by steve almond is one of those books that changes you. Onstage with him in conversation will be local essayist anna vodicka. His second book, candy freak, was a new york timesbestseller, was named the booksense adult nonfiction book of the year, and won the american library association alex award. His second book, candy freak, was a new york times bestseller, was named the booksense adult nonfiction book of the year, and won the american library association alex award. For me as for countless other candy lovers, almond perfectly captures the obsessive pleasures of candy. Get it today with same day delivery, order pickup or drive up.
Candyfreak is the delicious story of one mans lifelong obsession. I eat chocolate at least five times a day, and will travel far to buy a candy bar. In this boo in this awardwinning book, chocolatelover steve almond yes, this is his real name, determined to find the candies he loved while growing up, journeys across america touring some of the remaining. The appropriately named almond goes beyond candy obsession to enter the realm of freakdom. Part candy porn, part candy polemic, part social history, part confession, candyfreak explores the role candy plays in our lives as both source of pleasure and escape from pain. His acclaimed short story collection, my life in heavy metal, told tales of physical desire, love and longing.
A selfprofessed candyfreak, steve almond set out in search of a. Tom perotta, author of election an entertaining book full of repeatable tidbits about the candy industry. Written by steve almond, an enthusiastic, obsessed, and selfprofessed candyfreak, the book takes readers on a nostalgic tour of the country, looking for the small candy companies that produced the. Steve almond writes about chocolate with the passion of a man in love and the wonder of a wideeyed kid in a candy store. Candy freak is the story of steve almond s obsession with candy, particularly candy that no longer exists. Author steve almond talks about his book, candyfreak. A new nonfiction book, candyfreak chronicles almonds lifelong passion for candy especially the discontinued caravelle bar as he undertakes a sugar and nostalgiafueled exploration of. A journey through the chocolate underbelly of america steve. A journey through the chocolate underbelly of america author steve almond tells us three important facts in the prologue. His second book, candy freak, a new york times bestseller, was named the booksense adult nonfiction book of the year and won the american library association alex award. Steve almond a selfproclaimed candy fanatic and lifelong chocoholic, traces the history of some of the muchloved candies from his youth, describing the business practices and creative candy making techniques of. May 21, 2019 steve almond, author of eight books of fiction and nonfiction, including candy freak and against football, will give a hugo house audience a presentation on writing about the interior life as part of hugo houses words work series on the writers craft. Almonds second book, candyfreak 2005 was a new york times best seller and won the american library association alex award and was named the booksense adult nonfiction book of the year.
By turns ecstatic, comic, and bittersweet, candyfreak is the story of how steve almond grew up on candyand how, for better and worse, candy has grown up, too. Claiming to have eaten at least a piece of candy every day of his. Almond s books have been published in half a dozen foreign countries and translated into german, dutch, spanish, and croatian. Seriously hardwired, natural as autogenesis, even the surname is apt. A journey through the chocolate underbelly of america, and touring candyfactories across america. A journey through the chocolate underbelly of america, and touring candy factories across america.
Part candy porn and polemic, part social history and confession, this is the story of how steve almond grew up on candy and how, for better and worse, candy has grown up, too. However, when the author has spent as much time thinking, talking, and dreaming about candy as steve almond obviously has, the subject gains substance. Summarydescription what are the main findings or arguments of the source. Like steve almond does in the first pages of his book candyfreak, i must disclose my current candy count. In this awardwinning book, chocolatelover steve almond yes, this is his real name, determined to find the candies he loved while growing up, journeys across america touring some of the remaining small businesses in the candy bar industry. How did your candy obsession begin and when did you realize your fixation was on a freak level sa. A new nonfiction book, candyfreak chronicles almond s lifelong passion for candy especially the discontinued caravelle bar as he undertakes a sugar and.
Steve almond is the author of two story collections, my life in heavy metal and the evil b. The author has eaten a piece of candy every single day of his entire life. Claiming to have eaten at least a piece of candy every day of his life, almond first establishes his candy credentials. Written by author steve almond, this entertaining book gives a glimpse of the candy world through the eyes of a self professed candy fanatic according to the book cover, this book is part candy porn, part candy polemic, part social histor. Their name is powertech power washing and they did a fantastic job of pressure washing the front driveway, the sidewalk in front of my house and the back porch. Almond, a selfdiagnosed candyfreak, details with mouthwatering descriptions his visits to the minor league of candy makers who continue to churn out their distinctive products. Nov 29, 2012 steve almond, new york times bestselling author presents rock and roll will save your life, a musical extravaganza in celebration of his new book about obsessive fandom. Steve almond is the author of ten books of fiction and nonfiction, including the new york times bestsellers candyfreak and against football. Steve almond has written a comic but ultimately bittersweet story of how he grew up on candyand how, for better and worse, the candy industry has grown up, too. Steven almond book editor, ghost writer and power washing. Almond s tribute falls somewhere between hilary liftins decidedly personal candy and me and tim richardsons almost scholarly sweets. This book will, yes, make you hungry, but it will also make you gratefulfor wit, for selfeffacing humor, for joyful obsessiveness, for the precise and loving use of language to crack open and celebrate our oddnessin short, for a writer as funny and bighearted as steve almond. Candyfreak is the delicious story of one mans lifelong obsession with candy and his quest to discover its origins in america.
So it was with gleeful anticipation that i picked up steve almonds new memoir, candy freak. A journey through the chocolate underbelly of america is a non fiction book written by steve almond. But it was one of those things where, when i looked back at my childhood, it was so incredibly obvious i was a freak, because so many of my memories were associated with candy. I just wanted to give a shout out to the power washing company i used for my investment property in durham, nc. In candy freak, almond presents a solid history of the candy industry in 20th century america. A journey through the chocolate underbelly of america 2004 is a humorous, nonfiction book about the american candy industry. Chow, the nonfiction book candyfreak, and the novel which brings. A journey through the chocolate underbelly of america is a nonfiction book written by steve almond. Right up front, he divulges that he has eaten a piece of candy every single day of his entire life, thinks about candy at least once an hour and has between three and. Candy freak, a journey through the chocolate underbelly of america by steve almond and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Candy freak by steve almond is one of those books that changes you.
A journey through the chocolate underbelly of america. Candyfreak by steve almond sophisticated dorkiness. Steve almond has written a comic but ultimately bittersweet story of how he grewup on candy and how, for better and worse, the candy industry has grown up, too. His most recent collection of short stories is god bless america lookout books, 2011, and his latest novel is rock and roll will save your life random house, 2010. Almond begins the story lamenting the disappearance of the candy bars of his youth, and wonders why such perfect candies arent being made anymore. Steve almond a selfproclaimed candy fanatic and lifelong chocoholic, traces the history of some of the muchloved candies from his youth, describing the business practices and creative candymaking techniques of. At first, a book devoted to one mans affinity for candy sounds like junk reading. An interview with steve almond the official website of. Candyfreak by steve almond at first, a book devoted to one mans affinity for candy sounds like junk reading. Mar 18, 2018 the official website of steve almond, author of bad stories, against football, candy freak and more. Steve almond was raised in palo alto, california and was a newspaper reporter in texas and florida before writing his first book, the story collection my life in heavy metal. Steve almond, new york times bestselling author presents rock and roll will save your life, a musical extravaganza in celebration of his new book about obsessive fandom. This book was written by a true candy freak and, after reading this book.
A selfprofessed candyfreak, steve almond set out in search of a muchloved candy. Almond embarks on a hilarious, sugarhigh tour through. Apr 07, 20 as part of whats falmouth reading 20, steve almond, author of candyfreak, spoke about his book and candy at the falmouth public library in the hermann room. But steve also doubles as a professor at boston college. Candyfreak has lots of mature themes about corporate takeover and the role of food with memory, but its best feature is the fact that its a book that loves and glorifies candy yum. Almonds tribute falls somewhere between hilary liftins decidedly personal candy and me and tim richardsons almost scholarly sweets. Steve almond was raised in palo alto, california, and was a newspaper reporter in texas and florida before writing his first book, the story collection my life in heavy metal. A journey through the chocolate underbelly of america by steve almond the appropriately named almond goes beyond candy obsession to enter the realm of freakdom. The author thinks about candy at least once an hour.
Almond, a regular contributor on npr and a boston college professor, loves candy even more than i do. After describing his love of candy and chocolate in particular, almond takes the. Last year, he published bad stories, a literary investigation of what the hell just happened to our country, which he wrote to keep from going crazy. Steve almond has written a comic but ultimately bittersweet story of how he grew up on candy and how, for better and worse, the candy industry has grown up, too. Almonds books have been published in half a dozen foreign countries and translated into german, dutch, spanish, and croatian. Candy freak is the story of steve almonds obsession with candy, particularly candy that no longer exists. October 28, 2005 steve almond, the author of candyfreak. Steve almond has written a comic but ultimately bittersweet story of how he grew up on candy, and how, for better and worse, the candy industry has grown up, too. Steve almond has written a comic but ultimately bittersweet story of how he grewup on candyand how, for better and worse, the candy industry has grown up, too.
Yes, its about candy, and maybe you think it beneath you like i did at first, but the simple fact is that candy is more than just fat and sugar combined. A journey through the chocolate underbelly of america, talks with renee montagne and steve inskeep about the american obsession with candy. It is about a trip that he took in which he searched for candy bars made by small companies. As part of whats falmouth reading 20, steve almond, author of candyfreak, spoke about his book and candy at the falmouth public library in the hermann room. Candy freak is the delicious story of one mans lifelong obsession with candy and his quest to discover its origins in america. May 28, 2004 author steve almond talks about his book, candyfreak. In candyfreak, steve almond goes on an exploration of how the world of candy in the united states in changing and what that might mean.