Mod. 2 - Realism, Romance and Censorship - ANGUS, THONGS AND FULL-FRONTAL SNOGGING by Louise Rennison

Bibliographic data
Rennison, Louise. Angus, Thongs and Full-frontal Snogging. London: Piccadilly Press
Ltd, 2003. ISBN 9781404665668

Critical analysis
Characterization –
This book is in diary format from fourteen-year-old Georgia. She lives in England with her so-called “old-fashioned” parents and three year-old sister, Libby. She also has a rescued cat named Angus. Georgia is honest, sarcastic, and funny. What is refreshing about this novel and the characters is that there are no discussions about what the world typically thinks of along the same lines with teenagers. There are no drug or violence discussions. Georgia, along with the other teenagers in this novel, are typical teenagers anxious about the same issues and concerns real teenagers have today. Rennison truly captivated how teenagers act and talk. Here is a sampling of her humor:

5:30 p.m. I’ve just found I’ve got hairs growing out of my armpits. How did they get there?
They weren’t there yesterday.

5:40 p.m. I’ve got some on my legs as well. I’d better distract myself by getting rid of them
with Mum’s razor.

6:00 p.m.
Oh God! Oh God! I’m hemorrhaging. My legs are running with blood-I had to
stanch the flow with Mum’s dressing gown. […] (p. 157).

This is typical behavior of a teenager trying to learn to shave her legs on her own spontaneously. The characters in this novel are filled with this slapstick type of humor and conversation, which makes for an enjoyable read.


Plot –
Georgia is a typical teenager dealing with parents and an annoying little sister. Georgia dislikes her body, mostly her nose. She is satisfied with her life (as much as she can be, being a teenager), until her mother tells her that they are moving to another country. Jas is Georgia’s best friend. Jas likes Tom who works at the supermarket and Georgia likes his older brother, Robbie. The road to become a couple is not an easy one for these two. But in the end, Georgia finally snags Robbie.

Setting –
The setting is dated from August until July and is in a contemporary small town in England. The setting is usually at Georgia’s house or at school.

Theme –
As in most teenaged books, this novel has a rite-of-passage theme for Georgia, the main character. Regular teenage-type issues are apparent throughout the novel. How and when to snog is another important issue these teens discuss with each other. The British slang entices American readers with the absurd language choices for common actions, ideas, and other things that are discussed with each other.


Review excerpts
Booklist

“Although performer and comedy writer Rennison clearly owes a large debt to Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones's Diary (1998), her Georgia is a wonderful character whose misadventures are not only hysterically funny but universally recognizable. This "fabbity, fab, fab" novel will leave readers cheering, "Long live the teen!" and anxiously awaiting the promised sequel.”


Publishers Weekly

“British writer Rennison's subject matter may be the stuff of Bridget Jones's Diary, but the wit and bite of her delivery shares more in common with Monty Python. In a spectacular YA debut (Rennison is a comedy writer and columnist), the author creates a winning protagonist in the persona of 14-year-old Georgia Nicolson, whose wry observations and self-deprecating humor covers everything from prudish parents and bed-wetting three-year-old siblings to errant cat behavior and kissing (aka snogging) lessons. Teens will discover that nothing is sacred here (e.g., "Talking of breasts, I'm worried that I may end up like the rest of the women in my family, with just the one bust, like a sort of shelf affair"). Rennison exquisitely captures the fine art of the adolescent ability to turn chaos into stand-up comedy.”

Connections
There is a great British glossary at the end of this novel.
Watch the film version of the first two books in this series: Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging.

Have students create a booktrailer for the novelCompare this YA novel to the similar Bridget Jones’s Diary.