Topic 2: Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison

Rennison, Louise. 1999. Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicholson. New York: Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN: 0060288140.

Louise Rennison’s ANGUS, THONGS AND FULL-FRONTAL SNOGGING is a hilarious version of a typical teenage girl’s diary. The entries in Georgia Nicholson’s diary provide sometimes humorous insights into the girl’s life. Full of British-isms that the main character, Georgia Nicholson explains in her witty teenage way in an appendix at the rear of the book. Her best friend falls for the son of the local grocer, and Georgia falls hard for his brother, Robbie, the “Sex God.” Between trailing her crush’s girlfriend and dealing with her baby sister’s nasty habit of peeing in Georgia’s bed, the teenager has to explore parents’ relationship, her best friend’s rocky romance and her own self-esteem. The thing about Rennison’s book is the fact that though Georgia is British, her life experiences are so seemingly universal. “In typical teen manner, Georgia lives in her own world; she thinks she is ugly, is convinced that her parents are weird, positively abhors schoolwork, and has a deep desire to be beautiful and older.” (Reynolds, .)

Issues that parents would consider to be pretty serious, like bullying and shoplifting are dealt with in an easy, amusing way that does not result in a lecture. Georgia’s parents are seemingly out of touch with their older daughter who winds up shaving her eyebrows off just weeks before school begins. Written diary style, Georgia’s entries vary by minutes in some cases which help Rennison ratchet up the hilarity in many instances. Rennison’s book is a young adult companion to Helen Fielding’s adult novel, Bridget Jones’ Diary, which introduced the American public to a strong, truly strange, yet charming British lass. Rennison’s book is written in such an easy style that is possible to read the book in a day or hours. Adults who liked Bridget will most likely enjoy Georgia and students who have read about Georgia will likely enjoy Bridget.

Reference List:

Reynolds, Angela J. 2000. Review of Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicholson by Louise Rennison. School Library Journal. Vol. 46, Issue 7, (Jul).