Sunday December 7th, 2008 Candy

Remember when penny candy was actually a penny? I recall the excitement of making my selection at the candy counter in Walz's store, in Rosslyn Village. You could fit a lot of candy into that little brown bag. I think my favourites were the licorice pipes and the marshmallow strawberries. Candy today is much more spectacular; it fizzes, explodes or paints your tongue a bright colour. Here's to all things candy. Sweet!!!!!

Candyfreak: A Journey Through The Chocolate Underbelly Of America by Steve Almond.

This author loves candy, I mean he really loves candy. Who else keeps a hidden case of a defunct chocolate bar in an undisclosed warehouse? Follow him on a road trip as he visits the smaller manufacturers of candy such as Twin Bing and Goo Goo Clusters (I have a friend who would have loved to take that trip). His seductive descriptions of candy will have you salivating like Pavlov's dog. A deliciously sweet read.


Candy Cane Murder by Joanne Fluke.

This is a sweet treat for mystery lovers. It features 3 novellas plus holiday recipes. In Candy Cane Murder by Joanne Fluke, bakery owner Hannah Swensen hunts for the killer of a local department store owner, after a trail of candy canes leads to his body in a snow bank. In The Dangers of Candy Canes by Laura Levine, freelance writer Jaine Austen solves the murder of a wealthy suburbanite who fell off his roof while installing a giant candy cane. In Candy Canes Of Christmas Past by Leslie Meier, Lucy Stone delves into a murder that happened 20 years ago. The victim was the mother of town librarian, Miss Tilly and the only clue was a smashed glass candy cane, found by her body.

The Candy Darlings by Christine Walde.

The death of her mother and a move to another city turns a young girl into the new girl at school. Her chances of popularity are dashed when she becomes friends with an outcast, Megan Chalmers. Megan has a big candy addiction and she and the new girl become targets of a group of girls who rule the school. Megan urges the new girl to start eating candy, to cope with her pain. It's a theme reminiscent of Mean Girls, but follows life in the real world as well as the fantasy world that candy craving Megan creates.

Sweet!: The Delicious Story Of Candy by Ann Love and Jane Drake.

This children's book has an excellent history of all things sweet. It's full of interesting facts, for instance the Gummi Worm debuted in the 1980s, but gummi candy dates back to Germany in 1922. I was surprised to learn that one of my favourites the Marshmallow Peep has been around since 1954. Here's something to chew on, in the early 1900s Wrigleys was the first to advertise gum on billboards. Last year I started buying the new 5 gum in the United States. Today some of the flavours are available here, but not the cinnamon one (Flare). It's delicious and seems to get hotter as you chew it. I guess you could say I'm chewing bootleg gum. See their website at : http://www.wrigley.com/brands/5_gum.do The oldest brand in the Wrigley family is Juicy Fruit, which was launched in 1893. The Wrigley website has a history of all their brands as well as photos showing how their packaging has changed over the years.

If you're looking for places to buy retro candy such as Black Jack or Beeman's gum, Pixy Stix or Sen Sen try searching in Google under "hard to find candy". You'll find many sites such as www.groovycandies.com They feature grab bags and samplers of candies from the 50’s and 60’s, sounds like the perfect gift for anyone having a big birthday.

I hope this article has stimulated your sweet tooth and your appetite to read. The next time you stop by the library pick up one of these titles. Then grab yourself something sugary, sit back and enjoy.

Karen Craib is a Library Technician