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    Fruit: A novel about a boy and his nipples
    Fruit: A novel about a boy and his nipples
    Fruit: A novel about a boy and his nipples
    Audiobook5 hours

    Fruit: A novel about a boy and his nipples

    Written by Brian Francis

    Narrated by Brian Francis

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    What do you get when you cross the Virgin Mary with Brooke Shields, add a trash-talking beauty queen wannabe and throw in a couple of talking nipples? One of the most laugh-out-loud books you’ll read all year.

    Peter Paddington is 13, overweight, the subject of his classmates’ ridicule, and the victim of too many bad movie-of-the-week storylines. When Peter’s nipples begin speaking to him one day and inform him of their diabolical plan to expose his secret desires to the world, Peter finds himself cornered in a world that seems to have no tolerance for difference.

    Peter’s only solace is “The Bedtime Movies” — perfect-world fantasies that lull him to sleep every night. But when the lines between Peter’s fantasy world and his reality begin to blur, no one is safe from the depths of Peter’s imagination — especially Peter himself.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherECW
    Release dateSep 24, 2009
    ISBN9781554906253
    Fruit: A novel about a boy and his nipples
    Author

    Brian Francis

    BRIAN FRANCIS is the author of two previous novels. His most recent, Natural Order, was selected by the Toronto Star, the Georgia Straight and Kobo as a Best Book of the Year. His first novel, Fruit, was a Canada Reads finalist and was selected as a Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers title. Brian Francis lives in Toronto.

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    Reviews for Fruit

    4/5

    111 ratings10 reviews

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    • 4/5
      This is a novel of a boy growing up. And it’s a laugh-out-loud hysterical novel of discovery. It certainly took me back to when I was in junior and senior high school! And it’s great to see humor in one’s traumatic past!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      3.75 starsIt's the mid 1980s. Peter Paddington is 13-years old and in grade 8 in a school in Sarnia, Ontario. He has two older sisters and is overweight. He knows he is not normal and suddenly his nipples start talking to him. I enjoyed this. Peter is quite humourous in trying to figure out what's going on with his body and in his head (and what's with those talking nipples!) I loved the 80s references (mostly tv and music, but fashion and probably other references I'm not thinking of are there, too). Peter has such interesting daydreams! This was a really good, really enjoyable coming of age novel
    • 4/5
      I had never heard of The Secret Fruit of Peter Paddington, it was just a fluke that I saw it in a used book store, and read the first paragraph. That is one of my "go to" ways of selecting something I might like to read. Brian Francis has written a funny and touching book about what it's like to grow up feeling different. I thoroughly enjoyed enjoyed the time I spent in Peter Paddington's life.
    • 4/5
      Well written novel with seamless transitions between reality and fantasy sequences. Rather disturbing in some ways, though. I always felt embarrassed for and of the protagonist. He's very awkward, and yet normal...I think it's his obesity that made me most embarrassed, though his sexual thoughts also made me feel like I was invading his privacy. A very unusual book in that sense, though for young male teens who are obese and/or gay, this book may be what they need to affirm themselves as valuable. I like his friend Daniela, too, and I think she opens the book to be relevant for young females.

      And how many books actually take place in Sarnia, Ontario? That in itself is a hidden gem. :)
    • 5/5
      This book had me laughing from the beginning to end. I picked it up at Barnes & Noble on the discount shelf. I am so happy I did. At times you feel bad for Peter, but then you realize its only fiction.
    • 4/5
      This book is darkly funny and easy to read, but it also deals with very heartfelt human emotions. Anybody who has ever felt "different", like an outsider, or not one of the cool kids, can definitely relate to Peter Paddington. Probably my favourite Canada Reads book so far.
    • 4/5
      Charming, sweet, almost painfully funny.
    • 5/5
      Everyone, I think, has had problems with body image, and most of up probably still have. Poor, poor 13-year old Peter. Not only is he overweight, unathletic, unpopular, but his nipples have become marshmallowy, cherry-like, sticking out and sensitive. He tries to tape them, and after the corner grocery storeman gets suspicious (in Peter's mind) about the amount of masking tape Peter is buying (for a school project), Peter comes up with the idea of binding them with his Mom's elastic bandage. This is only one of Peter's many problems. His family, his schoolmates, his one-and-only needy friend, his newspaper customers...they all cause unending angst to poor Peter. Fortunately, he has his dreams, his dreams, to keep him going. 'Fruit' was a derogatory name for 'la-de-da' boys when I was a teen. I didn't even know what gay meant or was. Well, neither does Peter. But reading about his teenaged life, I got to like him immensely and I do hope the author comes up with a sequel. I just know Peter will overcome!
    • 5/5
      This is the story of a 13 year old Canadian boy. Peter Paddington is overweight and secretly gay. In spite of this, he has a strong spirit and most of the challenges he faces with school mates and adults are challenges even thin, straight people can identify with. High school is, for many of us, anything but "the best years of your life".Brian Francis has written a humourous novel that really captures life in Canada in the mid-80s. Peter's struggles and successes are those of everyday people and everything in this book rang true.
    • 4/5
      When I'm out in public and I see a group of young teenage boys, I try my best to avoid them or ignore them. If I don't, I'll be subjected to fart humour, really dumb attempts at jokes, and foul language (apologies to any articulate, polite young teen boys for making this stereotype, but it's based on my experience). Despite this aversion, I enjoyed reading Fruit, a novel that takes you deep into the mind of a thirteen year old boy. Peter lives in 1980s Sarnia, Ontario, and is friendless, obese and gay. The story is very funny in parts, amusing throughout, and a little sad too. The author, Brian Francis, absolutely nails the details of Canadian life, so if you're looking for a novel that captures typical middle class Canadian culture, this is a good one. Rating: 4/5 stars.Why I read this now: 1. It's one of the five contenders for the upcoming CBC Canada Reads competition, and 2. the library had it available to read from their website without me having to leave the comfort of home, so I read this off the laptop (which is a nice lap-warmer on a winter's evening). I'm not sure WHAT exactly Canada Reads is supposed to be. Does it mean that everyone in Canada should read these books, or at least the winner? If so, I'm not sure if this is the right book for the competition. For one thing, humour is subjective, so while many people will find it hilarious, I know a bunch of people who wouldn't. Also, there is some pretty bad language and very personal and lewd details, so I know some people out there would find this book offensive. Definitely not a book for every reader.