Candyland is another emotionally devastating Elizabeth Engstrom novel. Thankfully, due in part to Valancourt Books, she has been getting more recognition lately. It's not enough. I hear so few readers mention phenomenal books like Guys Named Bob, Lizard Wine, or Candyland.

I'm still catching up on Engstrom's work. I don't want to burn through it too quickly. Plus, I need a respite from the effect her work has upon me.

Candyland deals with three major characters. There's Peter, an ex-pro tennis player whose career exploded when a drunk driver hit him and shattered his knee. There's Peter's Dad, who lost his wife and since then has been focusing his entire life on his son. Then there is Tess, a woman recovering from the dissolution of a heartless marriage.

Peter has been smothered. Tess has never been loved, or really even noticed as an individual person. They meet at a bar, and what initially seems like a one-nighter turns into a web of delusional obsession.

The two retreat to his apartment and their fears, paranoia, and depression keep them from the outside world. Tess becomes the Everything Peter's father wanted from him. Peter becomes the Everything she always craved.

It no time they have completely isolated from society, subsisting on sweets and endless bottles of beer. Their needs are brought in by delivery and an accountant has been set up to take care of all bills. Peter and Tess succumb to madness and malnutrition, while their paranoia turns to distrust for each other.

Meanwhile Peter's dad struggles with his own individuality, and with the dreadful knowledge that his son is disintegrating away in an apartment.

Candyland gives me thought. This past dreadful year has brought isolation and mental struggles to a lot of people. While some have flourished, turning to creativity, fitness, and other healthy pursuits, others are locked in cubicles, too frightened to confront the world, and existing on deliveries and self-medication. How many stories like Candyland are going on in the world right now?

Candyland was made into a movie, with the slight title change of Candiland. I guess that was to avoid a lawsuit from the board game manufacturer. Gary Busey plays Peter's father, Arnie, and I think that is exceptionally good casting. I haven't seen it yet, but I plan to. I need to recover from reading the book first.

Read Candyland. Or Lizard Wine, or Guys Named Bob. Buy one of the Valancourt books by Elizabeth Engstrom. You may be overwhelmed by her work, but I doubt you'll be disappointed.

Written by Mark Sieber

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