Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
47th out of 53 books
—
16 voters
Fruit: A Novel About a Boy and His Nipples
by
Brian Francis (Goodreads Author)
Peter Paddington is your typical thirteen-year-old paperboy with a few exceptions. He's 204 pounds, at the mercy of an overactive imagination, and his only friend is a trash-talking beauty queen reject from across the street. As if that wasn't bad enough, Peter's nipples pop out one day and begin speaking to him, threatening to expose his private fantasies to an unkind wor
...moreebook, 0 pages
Published
May 1st 2004
by ECW Press
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
1,446)
4 Stars
Passionately defended by Jen Sookfong Lee (End of East), Fruit made it to the final two in CBC’s 2009 Canada Reads. If you missed this exciting week, and/or know little about Fruit by Brian Francis, I can say unequivocally that is is it a delightful read, and at no time inauthentic.
Written in the first person, this novel, set in the early 1980’s, makes us privy to Peter Paddington’s immediate thoughts, most especially the fantasy world he inhabits: his cherry-sized nipples, which pop out...more
Passionately defended by Jen Sookfong Lee (End of East), Fruit made it to the final two in CBC’s 2009 Canada Reads. If you missed this exciting week, and/or know little about Fruit by Brian Francis, I can say unequivocally that is is it a delightful read, and at no time inauthentic.
Written in the first person, this novel, set in the early 1980’s, makes us privy to Peter Paddington’s immediate thoughts, most especially the fantasy world he inhabits: his cherry-sized nipples, which pop out...more
Feb 16, 2009
Neil Mudde
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
ANYONE
Recommended to Neil by:
Canada Reads
Simply called "Fruit" in Canada by Brian Francis.
I started reading the book enjoying it,its funny,sad,nostalgic content although I found that when I got to the middle of the book, I had to give it a rest,as the feelings expressed about being and feeling different,from other boys, brought back unpleasant memories of my childhood.
Peter is focused more on his weight, especially his nipples, but the need to avoid bullies, nasty comments etc. at any cost is frightening. Peter certainly had a wonder...more
I started reading the book enjoying it,its funny,sad,nostalgic content although I found that when I got to the middle of the book, I had to give it a rest,as the feelings expressed about being and feeling different,from other boys, brought back unpleasant memories of my childhood.
Peter is focused more on his weight, especially his nipples, but the need to avoid bullies, nasty comments etc. at any cost is frightening. Peter certainly had a wonder...more
One of the five novels chosen for Canada Reads for March 2-6, 2009. More at http://www.cbc.ca/canadareads The title in the U.S. is The Secret Fruit of Peter Paddington: A Novel (P.S.) My writing partner, Jen Sookfong Lee will be pumping for this novel when the show hits the airwaves. Jen's website is http://www.sookfong.com and, if you're curious, our writing group resides at http://www.spinwrites.com
As posted in [http://www.amazon.com]:
Peter Paddington is an overweight 13-year-old paperboy...with man-boobs. Any guys who have struggled with their weight as a teenager knows it's just downright embarrassing to be cursed with man-boobs.
What's even worse is that Peter has imaginary conversations with his nipples. His nipples are telling him what to do even to the point of daring him.
Peter is just a fat paperboy who is just not quite like the other guys. He isn't into sports, which is a disappo...more
Peter Paddington is an overweight 13-year-old paperboy...with man-boobs. Any guys who have struggled with their weight as a teenager knows it's just downright embarrassing to be cursed with man-boobs.
What's even worse is that Peter has imaginary conversations with his nipples. His nipples are telling him what to do even to the point of daring him.
Peter is just a fat paperboy who is just not quite like the other guys. He isn't into sports, which is a disappo...more
Dec 07, 2007
Amy
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
people with a twisted sense of humor
So I was a little bit of a loser in Junior High, but I had it great compared to Peter Paddington. He has talking man-boobs, his only friend is this crazy, hairy, potty-mouthed Catholic girl on his street, and he has fruity secret fantasies! But in spite of all this, Peter's voice is never too whiny and the book manages to have a sense of humor about itself while also being strangely inspiring. Those who are expecting a typical coming-of-age and coming out story might be disappointed, because the...more
This book was really touching and I connected with the main character. It's funny growing up on the outside of life, as a fat, queer kid and how you begin to think that you may actually be going crazy. And the crazy things you do to your body to squash the parts that shouldn't protrude....it made me laugh and cry all at the same time. I recommend this book to any and everyone who has ever felt the least bit different as a child. Funny, warm and heartfelt. It was like a Lifetime movie minus the c...more
Feb 09, 2013
Leya
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
library-book,
canada-reads
I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I had a preconceived idea that I wouldn't like it, but I was hooked from the first paragraph. Which I just have to share:
"My name is Peter Paddington. I just started grade 8 at Clarkedale Elementary School. Six days a week, I deliver the Sarnia Observer and the other day my nipples popped out."
Then, I just sat and read. And laughed, and laughed.
All thoroughout the book I thought poor kid, he has no real friends, with a dysfunctional family, his mother...more
"My name is Peter Paddington. I just started grade 8 at Clarkedale Elementary School. Six days a week, I deliver the Sarnia Observer and the other day my nipples popped out."
Then, I just sat and read. And laughed, and laughed.
All thoroughout the book I thought poor kid, he has no real friends, with a dysfunctional family, his mother...more
My husband bought this book for me for Christmas about seven years ago when we were living in Chicago. Why? Because he read a portion of the novel and laughed at a part where the main character, Peter Paddington, places Band Aids over his nipples to keep them quiet.
Once I started reading the book, it was all over. There are so many laugh out loud moments in this book. The main character is an overweight high schooler who is babied with sugary, fat treats from his mother and has zilch social skil...more
Once I started reading the book, it was all over. There are so many laugh out loud moments in this book. The main character is an overweight high schooler who is babied with sugary, fat treats from his mother and has zilch social skil...more
As far as novels go, the voice is truly unique, and frankly the subject matter is pretty hilarious once you figure out what the title is referencing. I'm not faulting that or the subject, or even the voice itself, really. My issue is with the age of the character and the voice that is matched with it.
So in the novel, Pete is thirteen, right? Um, so, like, don't thirteen and fourteen year olds go through sex education? Shouldn't they kind of know what their body does during puberty? Why is a thir...more
So in the novel, Pete is thirteen, right? Um, so, like, don't thirteen and fourteen year olds go through sex education? Shouldn't they kind of know what their body does during puberty? Why is a thir...more
In many ways, Peter Paddington is an average adolescent. He's overweight, insecure, beset by a menopausal mother and two perpetually dieting sisters, bullied at school by Bangers, he wants to makes his father proud, he has crushes on schoolmates and customers on his paper route, and one day his nipples grow to the size of cherries and begin speaking to him.
"Talking nipples as metaphor" sounds like an iffy proposition at best, but it works in a number of different ways. Francis doesn't overdo the...more
"Talking nipples as metaphor" sounds like an iffy proposition at best, but it works in a number of different ways. Francis doesn't overdo the...more
I loved this coming of age tale of an overweight, shy, just beginning to figure out he's gay, thirteen year old boy. He's very naive, and is highly uncomfortable with the changes that puberty has wrought upon his body. Like most teens he feels alienated from his caring but clueless parents who are dealing with their own problems and his self absorbed older sisters who treat him as a nuisance at best and pariah at worst. He has a friend in Daniela, the foul mouthed neighbour girl that works in he...more
I just re-read this book. Even though I've read it a couple of times before, there are still "lol" elements. I also appreciate that it does not have a sappy, sentimental ending, but remains in the realm of the completely believable. Oh, Peter Paddington, where are you now? It gets better, you know.
Remember when you were 13 years old? You were probably going through that awkward change - puberty, weight shifting, friends, crushes, love, love/hate of school, embarassment from parents etc.
This book captures that nostalgic period of life. From the perspective of Peter Paddington, the readers get insight into the world of a boy who tackles issues with weight, sexuality, sibling battles and parental involvement. This book is full of sarcasm, humour and chuckles but yet touches upon the truth o...more
This book captures that nostalgic period of life. From the perspective of Peter Paddington, the readers get insight into the world of a boy who tackles issues with weight, sexuality, sibling battles and parental involvement. This book is full of sarcasm, humour and chuckles but yet touches upon the truth o...more
This was absolutely hilarious! Awesome first book!
Story of an overweight teen who is horrified when 'his nipples pop out' and spends the whole book taping them down so that no one notices. Oh, and they talk to him, too!
Told first person POV, and Peter's voice is nailed perfectly. The way he thinks and talks is so true for a person Peter's age.
Toward the end, Peter was working on losing weight. My only complaint is that we never fully got to see him try and see if he was successful. Screw if he l...more
Story of an overweight teen who is horrified when 'his nipples pop out' and spends the whole book taping them down so that no one notices. Oh, and they talk to him, too!
Told first person POV, and Peter's voice is nailed perfectly. The way he thinks and talks is so true for a person Peter's age.
Toward the end, Peter was working on losing weight. My only complaint is that we never fully got to see him try and see if he was successful. Screw if he l...more
I read the description of this book and HAD to read it. I just had to. I'm so glad I did. While this book did not turn out to be what I had expected, I enjoyed it much more than I had expected. It's not really about crazy talking nipples and it's not just your typical coming of age story. It's about an insecure but imaginative 13 year old boy and how he handles going through things he doesn't even realize he's going through. It's strange, but being 13 is strange, and this book found a way to mak...more
A funny, moving book about an 8th grade boy facing the changes in his body and life. My 14 year old niece liked it, too.
I really, really enjoyed this. A very readable story. 14 year old Peter Paddington feels betrayed by his body. One day his nipples pop out and eventually begin talking to him, begging him to be honest about a secret only they know. Instead he starts wrapping himself in tape, but no amount of tape can keep himself hidden from himself.
Peter's voice is very believable, leading me to recall much of my young teen years. Actually his voice is much more believable than most teen lit that I've read in r...more
Peter's voice is very believable, leading me to recall much of my young teen years. Actually his voice is much more believable than most teen lit that I've read in r...more
This was a GLBT coming of age story. The main character, Peter, doesn't fit in or have many friends. He is questioning his sexuality. His Mother is going through menopause and his 2 older sisters are cranky. Peter is an overweight 13 year old and he has lots of day dreams about what things would be like for him if he were the most popular kid in his school. There's not much of a plot but there were some funny moments. It was another enjoyable, easy read set in Sarnia, Ontario in the 80s.
Some la...more
Some la...more
This was an entertaining read of a boy coming to terms with his true self and discovering the strength to change his habits to become what he sees in his mind's eye.
This certainly would not have been something I would have read if it had not been a book of the month for the Mature Men's Book Club. I'm glad it was not the first book I read from Brian Francis as I'm not sure it would have inspired to read his second book, Natural Order. Natural Order in my view is a far superior book.
This certainly would not have been something I would have read if it had not been a book of the month for the Mature Men's Book Club. I'm glad it was not the first book I read from Brian Francis as I'm not sure it would have inspired to read his second book, Natural Order. Natural Order in my view is a far superior book.
I've had this book on my to-read list for so long that I don't remember where I originally found it. I ordered it from abebooks.com a few months ago and finally got to it recently.
It reminded me a lot of Veins by Drew, but I'm not allowed to talk about that on the internet, apparently, so we will move on.
The story follows Peter, an awkward, overweight teen who is confused about his sexuality? In the story he is supposed to be thirteen I think, but his mental level is nowhere near that. I'd say...more
It reminded me a lot of Veins by Drew, but I'm not allowed to talk about that on the internet, apparently, so we will move on.
The story follows Peter, an awkward, overweight teen who is confused about his sexuality? In the story he is supposed to be thirteen I think, but his mental level is nowhere near that. I'd say...more
When I picked up this novel the back cover read as follows, “Peter Paddington is your typical thirteen-year-old paperboy with a few exceptions. He’s 204 pounds, at the mercy of an overactive imagination, and his only friend is a trash-talking beauty queen reject from across the street. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Peter’s nipples pop out one day and begin speaking to him threatening to expose his private fantasies to an unkind world.”
So of course I had to purchase it and at only $2.99 it was a...more
So of course I had to purchase it and at only $2.99 it was a...more
I found this book more heartbreaking, than hilarious. I don't doubt that this story is a fair and realistic scenario of what some kids experience in adolesence, looking for acceptance amongst their peers, and struggling with their sexual identity.
Peter Paddington is a Grade 8, over weight boy in a family with 2 older sisters who are annoying to him and ashamed of him. His mother is a hormonal, overbearing person who treats him like a little prince, by insisting that he is not too fat, and encour...more
Peter Paddington is a Grade 8, over weight boy in a family with 2 older sisters who are annoying to him and ashamed of him. His mother is a hormonal, overbearing person who treats him like a little prince, by insisting that he is not too fat, and encour...more
I grew up a couple of provinces over from where this book is set and a couple of years before but Francis still managed to take me right smack back to that time with all the dead on references, everything from a Vachon Flaky to the tall tales told on the playground.
This book isn’t really about being gay. Sure, that helps to intensify Peter’s sense of confusion and alienation but I haven’t met anyone yet who sailed through puberty without feeling awkward and misunderstood and a little betrayed b...more
This book isn’t really about being gay. Sure, that helps to intensify Peter’s sense of confusion and alienation but I haven’t met anyone yet who sailed through puberty without feeling awkward and misunderstood and a little betrayed b...more
Mar 10, 2009
Peachy
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
canada-reads-2009,
canadian,
coming-of-age,
family,
humour,
inspirational,
weight-loss,
cliche
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I read this book in the span of a day, which is always a plus. It was actually super freakin' good too, which is even better. A very funny, quick read.
Peter Paddington is a thirteen year old boy who is finishing up middle school. The book takes place over the span of his year in the eighth grade. Along with being overweight and awkward, Peter has to deal with that painful realization that he is gay (well painful in the eighth grade at least). Throughout the book he realizes that he doesn't reall...more
Peter Paddington is a thirteen year old boy who is finishing up middle school. The book takes place over the span of his year in the eighth grade. Along with being overweight and awkward, Peter has to deal with that painful realization that he is gay (well painful in the eighth grade at least). Throughout the book he realizes that he doesn't reall...more
Oct 05, 2012
Natali.D (BookCupid)
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
contemporary
If my nipples could speak they'd say, "Terrific, terrific, terrific book." (Because if they were to sound more eloquent than me, like Peter I would tape over them and shut them up.)
However, this book goes well beyond the topic of nipples. Yes, Peter is gay, but he hasn't figured it out yet. And so the book stopped being about sexual identity at all. Instead all I saw was a boy trying to fit in, be the "right weight" (a Mom who doesn't want her 200 pound thirteen yr old to stop eating fast food,...more
However, this book goes well beyond the topic of nipples. Yes, Peter is gay, but he hasn't figured it out yet. And so the book stopped being about sexual identity at all. Instead all I saw was a boy trying to fit in, be the "right weight" (a Mom who doesn't want her 200 pound thirteen yr old to stop eating fast food,...more
So much awkward! A sharp contrast to my first Gay-Teen-Fiction-Month read, Fruit was hilarious, cringe-worthy, and slightly ridiculous. Suburban closet-case, unhappy fat kid, awkward teen, youngest sibling, loner -- Peter Paddington is a pretty sad case protagonist. Nominated as a CBC Canada Reads book in 2009, Brian Fracis' writing embodies the quirky Canadian humour we are so known for.
It was enjoyable and amusing but not amazing. I did find it sort of cool that it's set in Sarnia and I happen to be in Sarnia at the moment. However, I think the story itself has a universality to it despite a very specific setting. I think it did seem almost cliched in parts, especially with the groups/cliques in high school, but there was a freshness to the book too, like Peter's bedroom movies, his point of view itself, the religion aspect and of course, his nipples. I liked the slice-of-life...more
This was a first novel in which the author has spilled an entire childhood of fear and loathing onto the page. Peter is horrified by his suddenly noticeable nipples talking to him, criticising, bullying, and generally making his life miserable. He buys rolls of making tape and tapes himself up to hide the nipples and later substitutes an elastic bandage. He tries to figure out what the world is about, why he doesn't have friends, what the code is that everyone seems to be speaking, and what he s...more
OH MY GOSH! This book was hilarious and thoughtful and amazing!
I made a best friend during this novel and his name is Peter Paddington. This book doesn't spoon feed you anything. You get to experience life from this boy's eyes and watch him grow and explore and come to terms with who he is.
This is a novel of unconscious self-discovery and a tell tale hierarchy of Freud's Id, Ego, and Superego. Peter Paddington is a well-rounded character made perfect by his countless imperfections and his hilari...more
I made a best friend during this novel and his name is Peter Paddington. This book doesn't spoon feed you anything. You get to experience life from this boy's eyes and watch him grow and explore and come to terms with who he is.
This is a novel of unconscious self-discovery and a tell tale hierarchy of Freud's Id, Ego, and Superego. Peter Paddington is a well-rounded character made perfect by his countless imperfections and his hilari...more
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Brian Francis’ second novel, Natural Order, was published in hardcover by Doubleday Canada in 2011. The paperback was released in August, 2012.
Natural Order made Best Books of 2011 lists for the Toronto Star, Kobo Books and The Georgia Straight. The novel was short-listed for the Ontario Library Association's 2012 Evergreen Award and 2012 CBC Bookie Awards.
Natural Order tells the story of Joyce Sp...more
More about Brian Francis...
Natural Order made Best Books of 2011 lists for the Toronto Star, Kobo Books and The Georgia Straight. The novel was short-listed for the Ontario Library Association's 2012 Evergreen Award and 2012 CBC Bookie Awards.
Natural Order tells the story of Joyce Sp...more
Share This Book
1 trivia question
More quizzes & trivia...
Feb 17, 2009 04:12pm