Module 2: Angus, Thongs, and Full-frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison

Rennison, Louise. 1999. Angus, thongs, and full-frontal snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson. New York: Harpertempest. ISBN-13 978-0-06-447227-2

Angus, thongs, and full-frontal snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson by Louise Rennison is the first in a series of books about Georgia, a fourteen-year-old British girl.This first book centers around a year in the life of Georgia and spans approximately one year, from late August through July. Through Georgia's various journal entries, the readers get a bird's eye view into Georgia's perspective on her life as well as her desires. Georgia lives with her parents, her three year old sister, and her cat Angus. During the course of the year, she has to deal with a fresh cousin, her sexual awakening, pining for the Sex God (aka Robbie Jennings), fighting with her friend Jas over a boy, confronting school bullies, enduring school, and trying to figure out who she is, what she believes, and how to navigate her life while ending up with the Sex God in the end--at least that is her hope.

This novel, a part of the romance genre, has been categorized as chick lit for teens. A Publisher's Weekly article that came out in November 15, 2004 (Vol. 251, Issue 46) compared this novel to Bridget Jones (as many other reviews have as well) and likened "Angus, Thongs..." as a Bridget Jones for teens. The article goes on to discuss how teen chick lit must be humorous like chick lit written for adults. Also, the article mentions how this type of literature generally "revolves around a girl's angst-ridden but witty foray into womanhood, battling the perils of cool boys who might or might not like them, uncool parents, and other peer and academic pressures." This is a perfect description of "Angus, Thongs..." and the character of Georgia.

Louise Rennison formats the novel as a series of diary entries made by Georgia. The format makes for an easy and fast read, but is also a vehicle for much of the humor in the book as the reader gets insight into the hysterical workings of Georgia's mind. Probably the stand out feature of this novel is the author's style of writing. Rennison does a great job of writing in colloquial language chock full of British terminology. Rennison kindly provides a glossary for the American readers, which is fun to read. However, the British terminology in no way detracts from the storyline, but enhances it. In fact, the British English in the book takes the sting out of some of the "graphic" language for the American audience because it does not have quite the meaning in American English as it does in British English. Georgia cusses a lot, but she does it in Spanish, and she uses French phrases scattered here and there. She may say bloody, bugger, and tosser, but to most of the American audience, this language is not viewed as profane, and when we find out what it means, it is quite funny within the novel's context.

This story also has likable characters. Georgia is funny and gets herself in one mishap after another, such as when she ends up with no eyebrows after trying to groom them with tweezers and keeps trying to even them out until they vanish. Rennison does a good job of creating other stand-out characters, such as her three-year old sister Libby and her Scottish wildcat Angus. Those two characters create some laugh-out loud moments for the reader, such as when Georgia and Libby meet up with one of the boys who Georgia dates, and Libby proceeds to inform him that Georgia had just had a big poo. Too funny! And of course, there is Angus, the bit, fat cat who likes to stalk the neighbor's poodle, capture guinea pigs, eat knickers, and generally bully Georgia, yet Rennison also makes him endearing, which is a testimony to her skill as a writer. This is a great book for a teen audience, especially reluctant readers. A librarian could prepare a book talk on this series to peak student interest, but due to some minor, sexual encounters and some graphic language, this book could be targeted by censors.

Book Cover Art found at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Angus-Thongs-Full-Frontal-Snogging-Confessions/dp/B002Z2TPAW/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1286238175&sr=8-9