Nostalgia novel "too fruity"

Down the Figure 7 front cover

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A novel about Rochdale in the 50s has been deemed "too fruity" to be sent to British expats living in Canada and Australia. Written by local author Trevor Hoyle, Down the Figure 7 is a "rites-of-passage" story about a boy growing up just after the war, and deals frankly and honestly with the problems and misunderstandings all adolescents face in their first relationships.

Maybe too frankly for some. A gentleman in his 80s bought three paperback copies from Touchstones in Rochdale. One was for himself, the others for childhood women friends he had grown up with in the town who had gone to live overseas. He thought the book would make an ideal gift and bring back many happy nostalgic memories.

The next day he was back, returning two of the books. He explained to the bemused sales staff that, after glancing through it, he couldn't possibly send the novel to his friends abroad because some passages were "too fruity" and he was afraid might offend them. Though he didn't return his own copy.

While Down the Figure 7 (the strange title is explained in the novel) has sold several hundred copies, staff at Touchstones say this is the only customer to have asked for a refund, or to have made any kind of complaint. In fact, the popular reaction has been highly favourable, with sales spreading by word-of-mouth recommendation.

The book is also on sale at WH Smith, Number 10 Baillie Street, and Kelsall's bookshop in Littleborough.