Retro Reads: Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging
Look at that mean cat! Yikes.
Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging
by Louise Rennison
Harper Teen, 1999
(read Spring 2005)
Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging is the first book in the Confessions of Georgia Nicolson series. Told in a journal format, this is the story of the life and times of British teen Georgia. She’s a little dramatic, a little over-the-top, and a lot hilarious. She’s got a pesty three-year-old sister, a crazy cat, a crush on bad boy, a bestie named Jas, and parents that make her groan. From what I can remember, there is no super-important plot here…just Georgia navigating the drama of life.
And it works. Oh my goodness, it works. You could consider this a fluffy girl book, but I promise you it’s more than that. The writing is excellent! Rennison captures the dramatic teen voice perfectly. What I remember about this book, seven years later, is laughing until it hurt…and then laughing some more. The word choice and timing here are spot on. I think I appreciate the writing more as an adult because I realize how difficult it is to write in such a clever, dramatic, hilarious way.
Georgia Nicolson isn’t for everyone, but I highly recommend her if you like to laugh. I’ve seen comparisons to Bridget Jones’ Diary and Meg Cabot novels. I would describe the series as a younger, more dramatic, less-polished Ruby Oliver. It’s a quick read that’s withstood the test of time, which is why I recommend it. I own it, and purchased copies for my school library (recommended for middle school and up). You should do both, too.
Old School Reads is a weekly (if I feel like it!) feature for me to review books I read before I started my blog. It’s probably heavy on books from 1990-2007, which may or may not be considered truly “old school” by everyone. But hey, it’s old(er) school to me.
Posted on January 21, 2013, in books, librarian and tagged British, humor, realistic fiction, retro reads. Bookmark the permalink. 9 Comments.
One of my all-time favourites. I still have the entire set in my bookcase (some of which came out when I was probably far too old to be reading them). I tell myself I’m saving them for the eventuality of bratty teenage girls I may have one day, but really, I’m probably going to read them all again between now and that time.
I think I only read the first three or four. I know there are more. Now there’s a project for a rainy day!
I adore these books! I got a picture of the gal on the French version and she looks all awful and bedraggled, which is odd because Georgia’s a bit of a hottie. Nose notwithstanding. I’ll have to read Ruby Oliver if they are read-alikes.
Ruby is like a smarter Georgia. With more anxiety.
Even though I know Georgia is supposed to be a hottie, I also picture her kind of being a mess?
I definitely think of her as being a bit unkempt and frazzled, but I don’t picture her with terrible acne, strawlike hair in a scrunchie, wearing a tent of a dress. Also, I posted my Ender’s Game review.
I couldn’t stop reading these books in high school. My own little closet addiction
I seen Angus, Thongs, And Frontal Snogging but I’ve never read it. I thought it was a funny movie and books are always better so maybe I’ll read it.
And I need to see the movie! I knew it was a movie, but didn’t even think about it when writing this review. I think I need to see that.
Haha yeah it’s a pretty neat movie I think. It has been a while since I’ve seen it.