Dear Steve:
I could tell right away that I'd enjoy it, but I had a hard time with Candyfreak, until I figured out how to read it. It didn't sit well with me after a big meal, and reading it while hungry was just stupid self-torment. I found that I best liked reading it after a modest dinner, when I had had a little while to digest and could stand to hear about delicious treats. In other words, your book works best as dessert. Nice going.
I wanted to thank you for that, and also for the bits at the end where you digress (or ascend) into personal narrative. You wrote about being overtaken by a terrible haze of grief while driving, and I found myself thinking, Oh, I hope things turn out all right for that guy. Until then I hadn't realized how much of yourself you'd put forth in the book. I'm glad to have learned so much about candy, but I'm more glad to have had the privilege of uncovering such a sneaky self-portrait.
The damn library doesn't have your other book. But I tracked down a Five-Star Bar (peanut). It rules. Thanks for that, too.
-Jessica
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Steve Almond is a writer, creative writing teacher, and frequent NPR commentator. He puts words together real good. His website is here. Candyfreak is available from Powell's here. Enjoy.
