Picked this up at BookCloseouts.com to add to my "Books about things" bookbox.

From the cover -
Remember Caravelles, Choco-Lites, Oompahs, and Marathons? Steve Almond does, but when he couldn't find many of his favorite childhood candies anymore, he embarked on a journey to find them... and discovered the last surviving little-guy candy producers - makers of the Twin Bing, the Idaho Spud, the Valomilk, and a dozen other quirky confections - in an industry now ruled by conglomerates. By turns candy porn, confession, social history, polemic, and tribute to these survivors of the golden age of the candy bar in America, this is the story of how Steve Almond grew up on candy - and how candy has grown up, too.

I wanted to mention this website I found a while back - Old Time Candy
I've never ordered from them, but I found it a while back and I'm thinking this book could cause an urge for candy. I'm just saying...

Definitely a fun book to read. Quick, funny, and very interesting. A combination of memoir (reminiscences of author's childhood association with various candies), rant against major candy manufacturers (can't say as I blame him), and trek to antique candy firms, this book is quite an experience. Checked out the websites in the back - I think googoos was down for maintenance, but I did discover thru looking at steve almond's site that one of the links listed in the book was out of date (corrected this one).

Hershey has always made me happy - enjoyed this book with a bunch of York Peppermint Patties, but I enjoyed remembering some of the candies I ate when I was younger. Sugar Babies, Chunky, and I may have to check out those antique candy websites some more, and order some when the weather cools off.

Hope someone else enjoys this book as much as I did. Going into my "Books about Things" bookbox.

RELEASE NOTES:

Putting into my "Books about Things" bookbox.

Chosen from the Books About Things bookbox.

I LOVE this book! Steve Almond is the Bill Bryson of candy writing, if that makes sense. I will never look at the "Big Three" the same way again, and I have a new appreciation for the smaller candy companies that I did not have before. I remember seeing the Rocky Road and the Idaho Spud at Albertson's when I was just little but I don't know if I ever tried them. I may go on a search for the candies in this book that I have never tried just to see what they are like.
I want to find a copy of this book for my permanent collection. I plan to give this book to my sister Blossomxx5 today before she heads back to Nampa, Idaho. She is a chocolate "freak". :)
Thanks for sharing this book, MaryZee!

I forgot to add, I have been to the Jelly Belly factory in California. My family and I enjoyed it very much. they have taken Jelly Bellies and made portraits of Ronald Reagan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Princess Diana and others and have them displayed. We were a little disappointed that much of the tour was on video like the author stated, but the free samples were great, and we loved the gift shop where you could buy "Belly Flops" and a great price, Jelly bean seconds by the bag. Something interesting that I learned on this tour is that they take the Jelly Bellies that spill or otherwise don't even make it to be Belly Flops and they give them to a pig farm where they feed them to pigs. They do not, however, feed them any sugar-free jelly beans. They go right into the trash. What does that say about sugar-free artificial sweeteners? They are not even good enough for pigs to eat!
If you ever travel near a candy company that gives tours, I would recommend going. If I ever get a chance to travel again, we will definitely search out whatever factories are in the area and try to visit one.

Edited to add that I gave this book to my sister in Nampa, Idaho.