Slinging the Bling

Diary of a Chav #2

by Grace Dent

Book by Grace Dent

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Humor, Childrens, Diary, Chick Lit, Teen

Paperback

First published August 1, 2007

About the author

British columnist, broadcaster and author.

Between 2003-2010, Dent published eleven young adult novels, and was also a presenter on BBC2's The Culture Show, and a magazine and newspaper journalist, including a TV column for the Guardian.

From 2011 to 2017 she wrote a restaurant column for the Evening Standard, and became the Guardian's restaurant critic in 2018. She is a regular judge on the BBC's MasterChef UK and makes frequent appearances in Channel 4's television series Very British Problems.

Grace said in her role as an author for teens: ‘....kids who claim to have never read anything longer than a text message are ploughing through my books nagging me for the next one. This makes me insanely proud.’

She lives in East London with her husband, who works in the music industry. When she's not writing comedy Grace is to be found 'faffing about on the Internet' or 'faffing about in the garden or kitchen' or 'just 'faffing about generally. "I'm an excellent 'faffer."

Reviews

[Margaret H. Willison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a hard time with the first book in this series because it seemed like the book was half taking the piss out of chavs, and half trying to moralize about people and their prejudices. All the tacky details of Shiraz's life would be dwelt upon, pretty clearly for comic effect, but narrative tut-tutting would ensue when a character within the book made the same kind of observations. In addition, the plotting was kind of rushed and the characters weren't as developed as they could be. Never the less, I went ahead and wrangled this ARC out of a Little Brown rep, because Shiraz was such a great character and the book, while uneven, was still really fun to read.

I am so, so pleased that I did. This book really dug in to the social commentary and it did it incredibly well. Presenting a character from a maligned group is a tricky balancing act. On the one hand, if your character is aspiring to more than the life at hand, you've got to show what's wrong with that life. On the other, you can't paint their current life as so bad that everyone who dismisses their group is right to do so. Grace Dent does an incredible job of executing this with Shiraz, giving her the space to feel a little shame as her perspective widens, and then letting her bounce back to genuine pride in the person she is and the family she has, even if it's a bit of a mess. And all throughout, the book is extremely funny, with a great plot. I am really eager to read the next book-- I wish it were out in the damn States already.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG i laughed I cried, I loved this book!
I got to read an ARC, so some of the glossary bits were missing, but none of the humor, touching relationships and wonderful heroine! Can't wait for the next one. I hope Shirraz goes to college! Gold hoops and all!

[Marcelle]

edição brasileira

[rani]

british core

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shiraz Bailey Wood isn’t expecting great results from her GSCEs, which is why she takes a job to Mr. Yolk. She might as well get a head start on earning her share. But when she gets her grades back, she’s pleasantly surprised—not only are her GSCE results pretty decent, but Shiraz is intelligent enough to enroll in Mayflower Sixth Form. So, it’s back to school for Shiraz despite her mother’s protests. Even if Shiraz does enjoy some of her new classes and the new friends she’s made, school seems to be creating more problems than it’s fixing. Getting an education seems like the alternative to be stuck a chav in Shiraz’s sucky neighborhood Goodmayes, but there are also the distractions like the good-looking rich boys and loads of new responsibilities. That doesn’t even count all the time Shiraz has to spend studying. Even the constants in her life are changing: her sister Cava-Sue is leaving soon to travel, her best friend Carrie is more interested in self-tanner than doing her assignments, and even her boyfriend wants to tie her down. What’s a girl to do when all she wants is to keep it real?

Posh and Prejudice, though by no means fantastic, is an improvement over its prequel Diva without a Cause. The reader gets used to all the British slang that was somewhat confusing in the previous novel. Shiraz’s character is somewhat more solid and defined that it used to be. I like how she seems to have more conviction in her life and her beliefs and a strong will to succeed. She has matured a little since her previous year and can thus navigate her life better. Shiraz realistically struggles with other people’s perceptions of how she should live her life, which causes her to be less true to herself, until she finally realizes that she can only be happy bettering her life on her own terms. I like this message much better than the seeming lack thereof in Diva without a Cause; it’s what makes Posh and Prejudice so much more enjoyable for me than its prequel. While the novel is better than its prequel, it still had a little ways to go. Though Shiraz has become surer of some of her beliefs, she still flounders and doesn’t know what to do with her life. This lost feeling keeps me waiting for something really big to happen, but Shiraz’s one monumental decision is saved for the final pages of the book. This is bad because I was looking for more but good because it gives Shiraz room to grow and develop in a subsequent novel.

This humorous novel will be enjoyed by fans of Diva without a Cause and the It’s All About Us series by Shelley Adina.

reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com

Ms. Dent brings us another installment in the life of Shiraz Bailey Wood. Originally published in Great Britain as SLINGING THE BLING, the United States now gets more crazy adventures from Shiraz.

Shiraz gets her GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) results back. She can't believe her eyes when she reads her scores. Not only are they not bad, they're actually really good. So good, in fact, that she seriously has to consider continuing with her education into the sixth form at the new addition at Mayflower Academy. She decides she doesn't want to spend her life working at Mr. Yolk, so she signs up.

Her decision may just change the direction of her life.

Her newfound study habits force a rift between and her boyfriend, Wesley. She makes some new friends, some unexpected ones. And she is pursued by the hottest boy in her class, Joshua. But classes are hard, and she's put in charge of the Increase the Peace campaign. The campaign brings such promising press to Mayflower that Prince Charles is going to visit.

As with DIARY OF A CHAV, POSH AND PREJUDICE is an entertaining read. The glossary at the back of the book comes in handy, as there are far more slang words in this one than the first installment. But the situations that Shiraz finds her in are amusing and resolved in a manner fitting of a chav trying to step outside of her lot in life.

[Lindi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess it's not really Austen-esque, although the title is what pulled me in. I can't seem to get enough Regency romances or Jane Austen fan fiction lately. I know, it's embarrassing. Anyway, Posh and Prejudice was a charmer -- very funny and I had to really be on my toes reading it because the slang was so pervasive. I enjoyed that, and I didn't even care that there was a glossary, although I see that many American reviewers didn't. Shiraz is a delightful and smart young woman and, while I'm not inspired to go back and read her first installment, I will be interested to see how she does in the future, assuming that Grace Dent continues her adventures.

[Jenn Estepp · Rating 4 out of 5]

i like shiraz bailey wood so much better than georgia nicholson. there, i said it, and i know they're fighting words to aficionados, but seriously. she's smarter and she's sweeter and she's a better friend and she is preoccupied with many, many things instead of just boys and kissing boys and attracting boys. also, less twee and "oo, look at me." i am super bummed that the rest of the series isn't yet avaiable in america, but maybe that's just another excuse to plan a trip to london.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a another really good book. Its about when shiraz bailey wood passes her GCSE'S and goes into six form. She talks about the struggles of six forms, relationships, her future, Goodmayes and Mayflower six form. It is absolutley amzing and I wasn't meant to read it so it would last over my 15 day holiday but I read it in 3 days with which was v.hard to stop myself reading it in 1 day

[Karyn Silverman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is my new guilty British pleasure, and Dent follows in the footsteps of Rosie Rushton, Louise Rennison, and Cathy Hopkins. Since I'm not a chav, I have no clue how accurate the language is, but it's a pretty convincing voice, and a really great take on class and society in the guise of silly chicklit. Also, funny.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm, somehow Shiraz went from blonde on the first book to brunette on the second. Odd. I liked this one better than the first - Shiraz is growing as a character and I really enjoyed seeing how she is starting to see the world around her. I also loved seeing Uma come in to her own as a kick ass character. I felt so bad for Wesley but really look forward to seeing what the next book brings.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sequel that really deserved to be written, and lived up to its predecessor. Shiraz's development continued to feel genuine, and the characters' relationships were real and exciting. I also loved the shades of Pride and Prejudice, but really appreciated the story didn't just follow the plot line for line. I'm looking forward to the remaining books in this series.

[Shannon Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the when I was around 10/11 and I thought it was the bees knees. It was funny and not just haha funny, but laugh out loud funny.
Picked it up the other week and read a few pages, and to be honest, it wasnt that great. Maybe my sense of humour has changed, but I did really enjoy the whole series when I was younger.

[Maddie Coulson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book. i have read both the books and am soon going to read the next one in series. Shariz is my favourite character as i love how she is and her personality. I like it how the author changes her as she decides to stay on in 6th despite her family.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious! but it's original and proper title is 'slinging the bling' not 'posh and prejudice'! if you were expecting another take on the overdone Jane Austen, don't. Thankfully it's nothing like it . . . Enjoy!

[Kirsty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't as good as the first one - perhaps because it's much of the same territory - but it was still very enjoyable.

[Nuts about Friends · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book is a great every day life book

[Tasara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mean, for what it was. Great for the beach--another Adrian Mole?

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shiraz Bailey Wood is proper jokes. One of my favorite heroines ever - I liked this one better than Diary of a Chav.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

The parallels between Shiraz and Adrian Mole are BLOWING MY MIND, and that's a good thing. Keep 'em coming.

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't get into it. I think it's the language barrier... or my expectations. It's name references Jane Austen, so I expected something following my favorite story of all time, but it didn't.

[Yas]

<3 ily

[Ayo · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this book boring and plain. I kindof expected it cos i hadn't read the 1st one. I wouldn't recommend it.

[Beth Lloyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Neices book as before, very funny once again

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story line a bit naff!

[Sara]

havnt seen this yet

[Beth Tong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious - laugh out loud comedy