He talks about his own candy addiction for a bit always has between 3 and 8 pounds of candy in his house actually gives a rundown of the candy in his house when he was writing the book. Candyfreak by steve almond at first, a book devoted to one mans affinity for candy sounds like junk reading. Chow, the novel which brings me to you with julianna baggott, and the nonfiction book candyfreak. Jul 19, 2019 william stoner and the battle for the inner life by steve almond. Steven almond book editor, ghost writer and power washing. Candyfreak by steve almond is all about almond reliving his past through candy.
Seriously hardwired, natural as autogenesis, even the surname is apt. 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. 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 candyand how, for better and worse, the candy industry has grown up, too. Almond was raised in palo alto, california, graduated from henry m. 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. He admits early on to growing up as a clingy, needy kid who feels left behind by his brothers, peers, and romantic interests. 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 some of the smalltime companies producing the addictive treats. A selfproclaimed candy fanatic and lifelong chocoholic trace the history of some of the muchloved. 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. Its a short book, written by a frequent contributor to npr, all about candy. Candyfreak explores the rold candy plays in our lives as both a source of pleasure and escape from pain. Claiming to have eaten at least a piece of candy every day of his life, almond first establishes his candy credentials.
Steve almond writes about chocolate with the passion of a man in love and the wonder of a wideeyed kid in a candy store. Tom perotta, author of election an entertaining book full of repeatable tidbits about the candy industry. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. 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 some of the smalltime companies producing the addictive treats. Bostonbased author steve almond does an elegant job packing as much as he does into his 171page book about, among other things, john williams. The author thinks about candy at least once an hour. A journey through the chocolate underbelly of america author steve almond tells us three important facts in the prologue. A journey through the chocolate underbelly of america 2004 is a humorous, nonfiction book about the american 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 is the author of a bunch of books and two children. A journey through the chocolate underbelly of america. 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 history and part confession. 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 steve almond, a man who loves candy, gives a portrait of regional candy makers and his own obsession with allthings sweet.
I just wanted to give a shout out to the power washing company i used for my investment property in durham, nc. 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. Claiming to have eaten at least a piece of candy every day of his. Aug 18, 2019 william stoner and the battle for the inner life by steve almond. Steve almond talks about the history of the bar in candy freak chapter 2, that it was one of the most popular bars on the east coast and had a prominent billboard in times square which was relit at the end of wwii. 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, a journey through the chocolate underbelly of america by steve almond and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. 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. 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. 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. 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. His new book is a collection of essays, not that you asked. Its not just the economy of words in what he calls his peculiar pintsized ode thats elegant.
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. 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. Its not just the economy of words in what he calls his peculiar pintsized. Steve almond born october 27, 1966 is an american shortstory writer, essayist and author of ten books, three of which are selfpublished.
Steve almond is a novelist and nonfiction writer who starts out candyfreak with the following facts. But steve also doubles as a professor at boston college. Aug 26, 2014 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 selfproclaimed candy fanatic and lifelong chocoholic trace the history of some of the muchloved candies from his youth. Candyfreak is the delicious story of one mans lifelong obsession. He lives outside boston with his wife and daughter josephine, who can now make the noises of seven different farm. Almond begins the story lamenting the disappearance of the candy bars of his youth, and wonders why such perfect candies arent being made anymore. It never fails to ensnare, encompass, inform and exhilarate him. Its a love story to candy, and for all those reasons i thought this book was awesome. Jul 18, 2019 almond has a very real talent for transferring his passion to his readers, be it for candy in his wonderful book candy freak or for stoner.
A journey through the chocolate underbelly of america, talks with renee montagne and steve inskeep about the american obsession with candy. He writes about candy like someone who truly knows what theyre talking about, which i would say he does, considering the number of candy bars he eats and factories he visits throughout the book. For me as for countless other candy lovers, almond perfectly captures the obsessive pleasures of candy. Steve almond is the author of ten books of fiction and nonfiction, including the new york times bestsellers candyfreak and against football. Southbound with the hammers down southernfried freak.
This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of candyfreak by steve almond. The author has eaten a piece of candy every single day of his entire life. Near the end of the book, almond explicitly arrives at the same conclusion about his obsession with candy as the reader has probably already gleaned. Bostonbased author steve almond does an elegant job packing as much as he does into his 171page book about, among other things, john williams 1965 novel, stoner. However, when the author has spent as much time thinking, talking, and dreaming about candy as steve almond obviously has, the subject gains substance. At first, a book devoted to one mans affinity for candy sounds like junk reading. Steve almond is the author of two story collections, my life in heavy metal and the evil b. A journey through the chocolate underbelly of america 2004. Stoner is, according to almond and many readers, a significant novel. 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. A journey through the chocolate underbelly of america is a nonfiction book written by steve almond. Candyfreak is the delicious story of one mans lifelong obsession with candy and his quest to discover its origins in america.
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