1. Sarah Perry writes, of Twizzlers, “It’s good to have to work infinitesimally harder for the satisfaction, especially if you’re a person whose sense of pleasure is sharpened by effort and waiting, as I am…. How do they taste? Does it really matter?” Perry spends many of the essays describing the process of eating certain candies, and with Twizzlers she explores the relationship between effort, patience and finally pleasure --- the goal, for her, of candy-eating. Where else does this relationship come up in Perry’s stories? Where do you strike the balance between these sensations in your own life?

2. Aero bars make Perry think of Australia. Her friend, Liz, brings her Chinese candy from San Francisco. Are there foods you love that you can’t find where you live? How did you first encounter them? How do you obtain them now, if ever?

3. In "On Root Beer Barrels," Perry writes of the emotional and creative aftereffects of publishing a memoir about her mother’s death and how SWEET NOTHINGS developed in relation to that experience. But because childhood is so wrapped up in candy, her mother appears in this book as well. What sense of her mom do you get from these essays? How do you think it might differ from treatment in a full-length memoir? Does that spirit of finding joy in the wake of loss resonate for you? Is there a time in your life when you have done something similar?

4. Sense memory is a major factor of our experience eating in general. What role does it play in Perry’s essays? What are other experiences that evoke strong sense memories for you?

5. Sarah Perry uses the invention of Blow Pops, and chewing gum in general, to teach a little bit of U.S. history. What American values are reflected in the story of gum? What other surprising facts about food history or pop culture did you find in SWEET NOTHINGS?

6. Another personal thread that runs through the collection is the author’s polyamorous relationship with her partner, Preston. What does Perry have to say about love, pleasure and long-term relationships --- both with people and with candy?

7. Tan M&Ms are an indicator of time passing, when the author realizes that many young adults today have never seen them. Is there any food, item or trend that evokes a similar feeling when you remember it’s fallen out fashion or been made obsolete?

8. The essays in SWEET NOTHINGS are of varying lengths and tones. Which style of essay did you like best? Which did you relate to most? What did you think of the decision to group the candies by color?