SWEET CLASSICS

Let's Explore The Top 10 Most Popular Candies

Credit: Denny Müller

What was your favorite candy when you were a kid? Has it changed, or does it still have a special place in your heart (or should we say, your taste buds)? Some candies have stood the test of time, delighting different generations of Americans with their flavors. If you have a sweet tooth, read on. Today, we're exploring the delicious world of the 10 most popular candies. But be warned: this might just send you running to the store!

Credit: Shyam Mishra

Just the thought of its name is enough to make our mouths water! Considered one of the best-selling candies in the world, the famous Snickers bar has an unbeatable combination: sweet nougat and crunchy peanuts, all wrapped in a chocolate coating.

Although the name of this delicious bar might make you think of shoes, it's actually named after a horse, the favorite of the Mars family, who created the candy in 1930.

Credit: Justin

If you're one of those who can't resist a sweet treat, you've probably already enjoyed the Kit Kat bar. A classic in the world of candy, this bar not only has what we all want - yes, chocolate - but also combines it with several layers of crunchy wafer.

Legend has it that the Kit Kat bar, created in 1935, was specially designed with its iconic square shape so that it could easily fit into any worker's lunchbox. Plus, each packet comes with four chocolate fingers that you can snap off and save for later (although we prefer to eat them all at once!).

Credit: Midas Hofstra

Originating in the UK in 1967 and introduced to the United States in 1979, Twix, the famous chocolate and caramel bar, is one of the most popular candies to this day.

With its mix of milk chocolate, caramel, and cookie, Twix offers a crunchy delight that has won fans everywhere. Its catchy name is actually a combination of "twin sticks." Pretty smart, right?

Credit: Dan Cristian Pădureț

If candy bars aren't your thing, don't worry! Maybe a fruity alternative can be the right option for you.

Originating in Colorado during the 1950s, Jolly Ranchers have been a beloved choice for candy fans for many years. With flavors from sweet to sour, there's something for everyone. If you're unsure where to start, rumor has it that the red flavors are the most popular!

Best known for their iconic hard candies, Jolly Rancher doesn't stop there; they also offer gummies and lollipops!

Credit: Evan-Amos, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are an American classic, with annual sales of more than $2 billion!

It is not just the delicious mix of chocolate and peanut butter that makes these Cups so irresistible; it's also their creamy texture that melts in your mouth. Okay, you got us; they are our favorites. But we're not alone; even the famous Ryan Gosling is reported to be a fan of these delicious candies.

Fun fact: Reese's Peanut Butter Cups were originally known as "penny cups" due to their price in the 1930s when they first appeared.

Credit: Sebastian Gómez

Once you start, you just can't stop! Of course, we're talking about the irresistible M&M's.

For the sweet-toothed, there's the classic M&M's, featuring a semi-sweet chocolate covered in a colorful candy shell. And for those who want something less sweet, there's the peanut version.

Created in the United States in 1941 for the U.S. Army during WWII**,** you can enjoy these treats in any weather, hot or cold, thanks to the protective coating. Hence their famous slogan, "the milk chocolate that melts in your mouth, not in your hand."

Credit: frankieleon, via Wikimedia Commons

Hershey's Kisses, these filled chocolate teardrops, are not only delicious but also the perfect size.

But there is no breaking news here, as the Hershey Company has been producing these treats since 1907. Yes, they've been around for over a century!

In addition to their unique shape, Hershey's Kisses are also known for their distinctive packaging. Did you know that strip of paper that sticks out from the top is called a "Plume"?

Credit: Jonathan J. Castellon

Had enough chocolate? Skittles can be the perfect antidote in this situation.

Also featuring a colorful candy coating, Skittles may resemble M&M's at first glance, but they're different. Instead of chocolate, you'll find a mix of corn syrup, sugar, and fruit juice inside them.

But where does this peculiar name come from? Well, the candy's round shape resembles the "ball" used in an old European game also called Skittles, similar to modern bowling.

And here's another fun fact: Skittles have been vegan-friendly since 2009!

Credit: Evan-Amos, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Remember those days as a kid when you stuffed your mouth with so much candy that you couldn't even chew and ended up drooling? Well, even though we're all grown up now, the colorful Starbursts can make you want to do that again.

Originally known as Opal Fruits, they were later rebranded as Starbursts, a name that refers to the burst of flavor in every bite. In our opinion, this name hits the nail on the head.

But if you don't trust our taste in candy, perhaps you'll trust football quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who declared himself a huge fan of these candies. His favorite is the red flavor!

Credit: Mary Jane Duford

It's time to talk about a candy that divides opinions. Loved by some and hated by others, we can’t deny that Candy Corn is one of the most popular Halloween treats. Believe it or not, Candy Corn has been around since the late 19th century!

Despite its name and appearance, Candy Corn isn't made from corn at all. Instead, it is composed of gelatin, which gives it that waxy texture. If you are looking for a low-calorie candy option, look no further, as each piece of Candy Corn contains only about 7 calories!

LITERARY PIONEERS

10 Books With Mind-Bending Plots That'll Leave You Dumbfounded

Credit: Christin Hume

Literature is the realm of limitless imagination, so why do we expect every book to be the same? Realism and structure can be the pillars on which an author chooses to build their story, and these can certainly add to the strength of their writing, but that does not necessarily have to be the case for everyone. Many classics of all time literature defy conventions, and we wouldn’t even have modern literature without these pioneers!

So, prepare to have your literary sensibilities shaken on this trip through some of the funniest and craziest books out there—at least, according to us. You might even find your next favorite read!

Credit: Naomi Hutchinson

Infamous for being extremely difficult to read - and even more to understand, Joyce's magnum opus, Ulysses, is a literary puzzle that unfolds over a single day in Dublin. Its experimental narrative style, filled with stream-of-consciousness writing and linguistic innovations, challenges readers to navigate the complexities of life and language.

If you are not a fan of modernist literature, you might be wondering if this hefty volume is actually worth reading. Think of Joyce’s Ulysses as a very long and complicated joke, one that the author definitely did not expect anyone to take too seriously. With that in mind, it should be a fun - though challenging - read.

Credit: Etienne Girardet

Chesterton's metaphysical thriller takes readers on a surreal journey through anarchic conspiracies and philosophical paradoxes. As the protagonist, Gabriel Syme, infiltrates a secret council of anarchists, he discovers that nothing is really what it seems, as most members of the group seem to also be secretly working for the police.

The masterful narrative of the novel veers into unexpected territories, blurring the lines between reality and illusion. After reading this book you will certainly be left thinking about the nature of order, chaos, and the reality we live in.

Credit: mana5280

Ignatius J. Reilly, an unemployed 30-year-old medieval historian, the eccentric protagonist of Toole's posthumously published novel, leads readers on a picaresque odyssey through the streets of New Orleans. Sort of a modern Don Quixote, the novel explores the protagonist’s outrageous adventures as he is forced to face the real world and actually get a job for the first time in years.

This Pulitzer Prize-winning work is certainly hard to read through without bursting into uncontrollable laughter, so be warned. Toole's unique narrative style and memorable characters make this novel a rollercoaster of hilarity and social commentary that you will never want to forget.

Credit: Korie Jenkins

The debut novel by enigmatic author Thomas Pynchon - known among other things for being particularly averse to being photographed - serves as a great introduction to his labyrinthine worlds. This book takes readers on a tour de force through the globe and various points in time, exploring the themes of conspiracy, paranoia, and all sorts of weird or unexplained phenomena as the characters try to locate a mysterious entity known as "V."

Pynchon’s erudite and eccentric narrative spans from uncomfortably detailed descriptions of rhinoplasty to fine insight into the inner workings of the American military-industrial complex, as well as the hysterical adventures of a group of alligator hunters in the Manhattan sewers. Though it may look like a daunting read at first, it will drag you into it if you give it an opportunity.

Credit: Karsten Winegeart

A classic masterpiece of American narrative, Slaughterhouse-Five is widely regarded as one of the greatest anti-war novels ever written. As its main character, Billy Pilgrim, becomes "unstuck in time" and experiences events out of order, the novel goes back and forth between different eras of his life.

Vonnegut blends black humor, sci-fi, and historical events with ease in a novel that will leave you thinking deeply about war and the meaning of life.

Credit: Lanju Fotografie

Originating in a 1978 radio comedy broadcast on BBC Radio 4 primarily scripted by Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was later novelized to great success, becoming an international phenomenon. Blending science fiction with absurdist humor, Adams' classic takes readers on a cosmic journey filled with eccentric characters and improbable situations.

From the destruction of Earth to intergalactic hitchhiking, this book's offbeat plot and witty narrative style redefined the possibilities of science fiction comedy.

Credit: Brandi Redd

Often described as an "encyclopedic novel," Wallace's magnum opus is not only a colossal novel in length but also in complexity. The unconventional narrative and intricate plot incorporate hundreds of footnotes and digressions, slowly dragging the reader into a singularity of heterogeneous commentary on just about anything while managing to keep a humorous tone.

If this seems like a tough nut to crack, it’s because it is. But if you are into reading a timeless classic akin to War and Peace in its span and ambition - perhaps during a summer vacation - Infinite Jest is just what you are looking for!

Credit: National Cancer Institute

An absolutely essential classic for both science fiction and horror fans, Shelley's classic novel, Frankenstein, revolutionized literature. By exploring themes like the limits and morals of scientific research and experimentation, as well as the question of life and consciousness itself, Frankenstein became one of the most popular gothic novels of the 19th century and stands as a firm literary anchor well into modern times, retold again and again from a million perspectives.

Credit: Craig Melville

Le Guin's speculative fiction masterpiece, Always Coming Home, is a complex and multifaceted work that blurs the lines between novel, ethnography, and poetry.

Set in a future California, the book explores the society of the Kesh people, a group that survives in a distant future, long after modern society collapsed. The novel incorporates a dense tapestry of narratives, myths, and cultural insights that are as beautifully crafted as thought-provoking.

Credit: jules a.

Better known for his best-seller Lolita, Nabokov was a daring and creative writer known for his clever plots and metaphors. Pale Fire, a novel he wrote after becoming financially independent, unfolds through a 999-line poem and its commentary.

As readers navigate the intricate layers of the novel, they discover a complex narrative filled with deception, obsession, and literary gamesmanship, making Pale Fire a truly mind-bending experience. An example of "metafiction," it is certainly an unconventional read, but it is considered by many to be Nabokov's most perfect novel and an outstanding display of his enduring genius.