An ancient race of lycanthropes has survived to the present day, and its numbers are growing. Bent on dominance, rival factions are initiating ... read full description
reviews
Sep 10, 2010
D.E.
rated it: 
Toby Barlow’s Sharp Teeth is weird, beautiful, and audacious beyond measure. Not only is it about tribes of warring werewolves tearing into each other up and down the coast of Southern California and into Mexico, it is also written in free verse. No joke. And it works. It works in spades; it’s a pleasurable, deep read filled with sex, death, longing, betrayal and revenge. And yeah, fucking werewolves and werewolves fucking.
They are not really werewolves or at least they are not your More...
They are not really werewolves or at least they are not your More...
22 comments
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(38 people liked it)
Apr 21, 2010
Ceridwen
rated it:
Barlow takes the Homeric fire, tosses on a bunch of kerosene, toasts a couple of marshmallows until they bubble blackly, and then eats them with a grin. Then he throws on a couple of tires for good measure and leans back for a long, slow pull on a hip-flask. Man. I've been doing the sputtering flail whenever I try to describe this book to people: it's a free verse novel! about werewolves! an L.A.! Quit backing away like I'm a crazy person because I'm totally for serious and so is Barlow.
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40 comments
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(31 people liked it)
Mar 15, 2008
Eric
rated it:
Toby Barlow writes
about the good things in life
and the bad.
Oh, you know:
Blood, sex, death, hunger, frenzy
But his
conceit!
His
gall!
Is to structure his story
as 308 pages
of free-verse poetry
whose style this preview crudely mimics.
But wait!
Oh gentle goodreads friend
I haven't even told you
the best part.
For Barlow's
book?
poem?
experiment?
What do you call something
that d More...
about the good things in life
and the bad.
Oh, you know:
Blood, sex, death, hunger, frenzy
But his
conceit!
His
gall!
Is to structure his story
as 308 pages
of free-verse poetry
whose style this preview crudely mimics.
But wait!
Oh gentle goodreads friend
I haven't even told you
the best part.
For Barlow's
book?
poem?
experiment?
What do you call something
that d More...
3 comments
like
(52 people liked it)
Jul 10, 2008
Steve
rated it:
Writing in verse has its drawbacks in that some people instantly recoil when they see something that reminds them of some poetry class where they got their heart smashed apart and the instructor didn’t care because he/she demanded that they interpret some form of verse which they didn’t want to not because they couldn’t but because it was too close to heart and they couldn’t go on….
Or they don’t like things that rhyme unless it’s rap or some children’s story, which of course means th More...
Or they don’t like things that rhyme unless it’s rap or some children’s story, which of course means th More...
Feb 25, 2008
Maggie
rated it: 
Toby Barlow's version of Los Angeles is one that teems with werewolves who run in rival gangs, challenge Mexican crystal meth kingpins, change form at will and regardless of the moon’s cycle, and manage to go largely unnoticed by the human population. They infiltrate the city’s animal shelters, play bridge, surf, battle one another for dominance, build and destroy crime empires, and fall in love. And inexplicably, Barlow chooses to tell their story entirely in blank verse.
If you're a More...
If you're a More...
May 26, 2008
Miriam
rated it:
I got this book because 1) awesome cover 2) who could resist at least trying a novel in verse about werewolves in Los Angeles? (Lots of people, apparently, because no one I mentioned it to wanted to read it. Oh well.) C'mon, the author is described as "If Ovid had been raised on a steady diet of Marvel Comics, Roger Corman, and MTV," that doesn't make you want to at least open the book?! Once I got used to following the plot I thought it was well-constructed, and the characterizations
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8 comments
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(15 people liked it)
Jan 31, 2012
Tatjana
rated it:
This book definitely kept me engaged. It was interesting and I look forward to seeing Barlow grow as a writer.
I think there is quite a lot of talent about to burst forth from this young writer.
I think the format was a little distracting. I know next to nothing about verse, but it seemed less to be a novel in verse than non-traditionally formatted prose. I appreciate the effort in this and had no trouble reading it; however I do wonder if it took a bit away from the punch of the charact More...
I think there is quite a lot of talent about to burst forth from this young writer.
I think the format was a little distracting. I know next to nothing about verse, but it seemed less to be a novel in verse than non-traditionally formatted prose. I appreciate the effort in this and had no trouble reading it; however I do wonder if it took a bit away from the punch of the charact More...
0 comments
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(2 people liked it)
Apr 08, 2008
George
rated it:
OK, I'll admit it-werewolves are my favorite monsters, among the old-school/Universal Classic crowd. So I'll check out pretty much anything on the topic. But Sharp Teeth is something a bit different, and amazingly good.
The book reads like a noir thriller in an epic poetry style. It is one of the more quotable books I have read, and the reviews on the dust jacket deliver additional praise. And this is a first novel for the author, Toby Barlow. There are books that you start reading an More...
The book reads like a noir thriller in an epic poetry style. It is one of the more quotable books I have read, and the reviews on the dust jacket deliver additional praise. And this is a first novel for the author, Toby Barlow. There are books that you start reading an More...
2 comments
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(3 people liked it)
Jul 19, 2008
max
rated it: 
Judging by Toby Barlow's popular debut novel set in Los Angeles and crafted in free verse, the occupation of advertising executive is reasonable preparation for writing long poetry, and probably not a handicap in publishing the results. Our ad man first pressed his epic in the UK, where he built enough buzz to overcome us verse-averse Yanks. Equipped with quip-length lines and slogan-strength strophes, Barlow furiously tears down the page with more elan than poise, but this is perhaps befitting
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Jul 07, 2008
Tim
rated it:
When I first opened this book and saw that is was written in verse stanzas rather than straight prose, I groaned. "Oh no," I thought, "an epic poem."
In fact, the book's format turned out to be one of its greatest strengths, as I quickly gathered after the first few pages. The line breaks and pronounced rhythm of poetry make it perfect for emphasizing a choice phrase or idea, and the relatively small amount of text on each page contributes greatly to the feeling of More...
In fact, the book's format turned out to be one of its greatest strengths, as I quickly gathered after the first few pages. The line breaks and pronounced rhythm of poetry make it perfect for emphasizing a choice phrase or idea, and the relatively small amount of text on each page contributes greatly to the feeling of More...
0 comments
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(2 people liked it)
Mar 23, 2008
Elizabeth
rated it:
A book about werewolves, and other dogs, written in free verse and set in LA. What could be better? Well, if you must know --
It's a thoughtful book. The verse is deceptive. You can breeze right through it and suddenly you've lost a sense of what's going on below the surface. I had to slow down my reading to make sure I was paying attention to the nuances of the writing, which meant that the story, for me, dragged at that speed. Maybe if Barlow didn't leave so many things More...
It's a thoughtful book. The verse is deceptive. You can breeze right through it and suddenly you've lost a sense of what's going on below the surface. I had to slow down my reading to make sure I was paying attention to the nuances of the writing, which meant that the story, for me, dragged at that speed. Maybe if Barlow didn't leave so many things More...
11 comments
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(6 people liked it)
Jun 05, 2009
Stephanie
rated it:
Like many who have reviewed this book, I was in love with the book cover without ever opening the book. I loved the red linen-y cover with that slickery black dog imprint... so cool!
Then I opened the book and thought "Poetry? WTF? I thought this was paranormal-romance-ish book about werewolves... Oh well, I'll give a try."
And I am glad I did. The story is fairly typical but the style in which it is told makes this book rate so highly with me. The free-verse form More...
Then I opened the book and thought "Poetry? WTF? I thought this was paranormal-romance-ish book about werewolves... Oh well, I'll give a try."
And I am glad I did. The story is fairly typical but the style in which it is told makes this book rate so highly with me. The free-verse form More...
4 comments
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(4 people liked it)
Apr 07, 2008
Chuybacca
rated it:
I initially gave this book 4 stars simply because I was being a snob, thinking "It's pop fiction, 'AWESOME' doesn't rank 5 stars, does it?"
To hell with that. It's probably hard to imagine a well-written book about werewolves, but you'll have to read to understand. Definitely inventive and an entertaining page-turner, but moving and beautiful at the same time. It'll transport you to a different (yet familiar) world while you're reading it.
Maybe it's my chemically More...
To hell with that. It's probably hard to imagine a well-written book about werewolves, but you'll have to read to understand. Definitely inventive and an entertaining page-turner, but moving and beautiful at the same time. It'll transport you to a different (yet familiar) world while you're reading it.
Maybe it's my chemically More...
2 comments
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(4 people liked it)
Jul 05, 2008
Sharon
rated it: 
Well, it didn't make it to the honeymoon! I devoured this over the course of a few days. I do admit to having to look up the word lycanthrope after a few chapters... Once you give yourself over to the premise, it is a fun read. I found it to be quite like a modern noir detective story. The poetry thing didn't really work for me; I just kind of ignored it. I think he did it to make the book longer, frankly! But overall, I did enjoy the book and thought he did a great job of tying together a lot o
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0 comments
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(2 people liked it)
Feb 28, 2008
Betsy
rated it:
I found this book compulsively readable in a way that I would never expect from most verse novels. The subject matter - werewolf/dog/people was extremely interesting. Although I really enjoyed the book, I did find it confusing at times to keep track of the various packs, their motivations, and changing alliances. I thought the cover of the book would sell this book and those that don't especially like reading novels in verse would probably be willing to overlook that because the book is so full
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0 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Nov 17, 2011
Emily
rated it:
On an excursion to BookPeople one day, my friend randomly picked this book out for me to read over the Christmas holidays. I was skeptical at first -- it's about werewolves, and I'm more of a vampire/witch/ghost kind of girl -- but I agreed to give it a chance. To my surprise, I was quickly sucked in by all of the different plot lines that eventually came together to solve the story's overlying mystery. I also really liked getting to know the well-devoloped characters, specifically Lark, Anthony
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Oct 27, 2011
Bill
rated it:
With an opening line clearly urging his readers to consider their favorite epic poem, Toby Barlow raises the curtain on his powerful, compelling novel, Sharp Teeth.
Anthony, the temporarily down-on-his-luck protagonist, finds employment with the Los Angeles animal control department, where he is faced with the sad and gruesome task of capturing and putting down strays. His co-workers are rough around the edges and more than a little mysterious. When they begin disappearing, Anthony h More...
Anthony, the temporarily down-on-his-luck protagonist, finds employment with the Los Angeles animal control department, where he is faced with the sad and gruesome task of capturing and putting down strays. His co-workers are rough around the edges and more than a little mysterious. When they begin disappearing, Anthony h More...
Oct 26, 2011
Leigh
rated it:
Me: Hey, look, Ma! I’m reading poetry!
Mom: Oh, Leigh, I’m so proud!
Me: This is so cool! I love it!
Mom: What are you reading? Dickinson? Whitman? Angelou?
Me: Barlow!
Mom: Who?
Me: Toby Barlow, Mom! He’s awesome! He wrote this amazing book-length narrative poem called
Sharp Teeth about werewolves in Los Angeles!
Mom: Um –
Me: Well, they’re not really werewolves! They’re shape shifters who can change back and forth
between human and dog.
More...
Mom: Oh, Leigh, I’m so proud!
Me: This is so cool! I love it!
Mom: What are you reading? Dickinson? Whitman? Angelou?
Me: Barlow!
Mom: Who?
Me: Toby Barlow, Mom! He’s awesome! He wrote this amazing book-length narrative poem called
Sharp Teeth about werewolves in Los Angeles!
Mom: Um –
Me: Well, they’re not really werewolves! They’re shape shifters who can change back and forth
between human and dog.
More...
Sep 26, 2011
Shazza
rated it:
Being a fan of werewolves, figured this book and I would be a good match. The story is about Anthony, a young man who works as a dog catcher in California; Lark, a werewolf; and the girl - the woman in Lark's pack. Lark is working an angle. He has his pack, he has his feelers out, listening through, amazingly enough, bridge games with two of his pack members. Another pack member he wants to place at the animal control and therefore, needs Anthony.
There's just a few problems - another p More...
There's just a few problems - another p More...
Sep 05, 2011
Ben
rated it:
this is an epic free verse poem about rival werewolf gangs in modern day los angeles. the first couple pages were absolutely fantastic, and the writing was great throughout. really clean, fast, hard, emotion-driven poetry-- the kinda stuff that makes you say, "oh yeah, the majority of so-called 'literary fiction' really does suffer from a clichéd sense of lyricism!" but then the story itself kicked in, and all of a sudden it was werewolves playing bridge tournaments with old ladies in
More...
0 comments
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(3 people liked it)
Jun 22, 2011
Anna
rated it:
An earlier reviewer mentioned how they wished we could give 'half ratings'--such as a 3.5, for instance. I'm much in the same boat.
Having studied both literature and the Classics (both epics and drama), I'm rather immune to verse--especially since I'm a fan of Robert Browning. Even my boyfriend, who's more a Western sort, found that he could get into some sort of rhythm relatively easily after a few pages of reading. That being said, it was nice to see a book with a romance that wasn More...
Having studied both literature and the Classics (both epics and drama), I'm rather immune to verse--especially since I'm a fan of Robert Browning. Even my boyfriend, who's more a Western sort, found that he could get into some sort of rhythm relatively easily after a few pages of reading. That being said, it was nice to see a book with a romance that wasn More...
0 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Feb 22, 2011
Susan
rated it:
SHARP TEETH
An ancient race of lycanthropes has survived to the present day and its numbers are growing as the initiated convince L.A.’s down-and-out to join their pack.
So begins the back copy on another book
that sucked me in first
by its cool cover.
I didn’t cull this one out of the pack
on my own.
My son brought it to me on Mother’s Day
and that striking cover aside
I was hesitant
unsure,
because of the free verse in which it was composed More...
An ancient race of lycanthropes has survived to the present day and its numbers are growing as the initiated convince L.A.’s down-and-out to join their pack.
So begins the back copy on another book
that sucked me in first
by its cool cover.
I didn’t cull this one out of the pack
on my own.
My son brought it to me on Mother’s Day
and that striking cover aside
I was hesitant
unsure,
because of the free verse in which it was composed More...
Mar 21, 2011
Josh
rated it:
Were wolves in east LA, hum I thought, not really my cup of coffee, but I opened the cover and didn't set it down until I was too tired to keep reading. It is that good, it may in fact be up there as one of my favorite novels. Lean prose cut to the bone, not an extra piece of fat left in. Toby Barlow is a writers writer. I stand in humble reverence to his talent. Read this book.
2 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Dec 13, 2010
Karen
rated it:
I wish they had 1/2 stars because I would give this either a 2.5 or a 3 possibly..??
I am not sure what I actually think of this book. It is written in verse which makes for a quicker read but also a read without too many details.
The story is about 3 different packs of werewolves. Basically they are all after each other, but this story focuses on one pack in particular. In this pack there are a few people that betray the pack and join the enemy pack. Due to this there is a More...
I am not sure what I actually think of this book. It is written in verse which makes for a quicker read but also a read without too many details.
The story is about 3 different packs of werewolves. Basically they are all after each other, but this story focuses on one pack in particular. In this pack there are a few people that betray the pack and join the enemy pack. Due to this there is a More...
Oct 07, 2010
Mrs. Foley
rated it:
Very different! This is written in poetry format and is about werewolves. But these are so much different than the "Twilight" puppies. Definitely for a mature and intellectual reader.
Review from School Library Journal:
Barlow's debut novel innovatively mixes horror, noir, and epic poetry, creating a uniquely thrilling read. Ruled by competing packs of werewolves, the seedy underside of LA is far stranger than anyone ever imagined. Lycanthropes hire themselves out as More...
Review from School Library Journal:
Barlow's debut novel innovatively mixes horror, noir, and epic poetry, creating a uniquely thrilling read. Ruled by competing packs of werewolves, the seedy underside of LA is far stranger than anyone ever imagined. Lycanthropes hire themselves out as More...
Sep 15, 2010
Ringo
rated it:
With all the Twilight-fodder out there, one might forget that there are contemporary (Young) Adult books about werewolves and other assorted fantastic content, that are actually worth reading for more than the guilty pleasure of a ‘fantastic love story’ that lovelorn maidens seem to be interested in these days. One of these books is Toby Barlow’s debut Sharp Teeth. The book deals with packs of lycanthropes (werewolves) who are not only battling each other, but who’re also planning to take over
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Aug 02, 2010
Ljuneosborne
rated it:
A book that goes by very quickly, I felt like I was watching a good movie. There's lots of blood and betrayal. With paranormal romance books feeding off of teen hormones for popularity, we need books like this to remind us that werewolves are meant to be scary, ugly beasts that will devour a man whole. And this being a first novel makes it all the more impressive.
This is also the first modern free verse novel I've read, and I look forward to reading more in the near future. As this is More...
This is also the first modern free verse novel I've read, and I look forward to reading more in the near future. As this is More...
Apr 13, 2010
Julie
rated it:
This book was written in a lyrical free prose, which at first I was worried would be distracting. Overall, it was just the opposite, it really pulled me through the book very quickly. It was a very fast paced story with quite a few characters and a lot going on. Only a handful of the characters obtained any depth, but it was enough to get attached to the right ones. There were a few holes I would have liked filled, but overall, my final feeling when I finished the book was just "wow"
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Mar 10, 2010
Kat
rated it:
http://tinyurl.com/yafoqc6
I cannot begin to tell you the amount of kicking and screaming that ensued for an entire year as my husband tried to get me to read this book. No, says I, I will not read a book that's written in verse. It's not in verse, try the first page, he says about forty-umpteen times. You'll like it, I promise, he says another forty-umpteen times.
So now he gets to say "I told you so" since I did end up getting past that first page and enjoying t More...
I cannot begin to tell you the amount of kicking and screaming that ensued for an entire year as my husband tried to get me to read this book. No, says I, I will not read a book that's written in verse. It's not in verse, try the first page, he says about forty-umpteen times. You'll like it, I promise, he says another forty-umpteen times.
So now he gets to say "I told you so" since I did end up getting past that first page and enjoying t More...
Feb 04, 2010
Kate
rated it:
In the current supernatural zeitgeist, books about vampires, werewolves, fae and such are plopping out of the publishing birth canal at an alarming rate. The majority of these books are little more than supersoftcore porn with a little spice of urban fantasy.
Sharp Teeth is not one of those books. Instead it is exactly the sort of novel that makes the explosion in urban fantasy an excusable, and even necessary, phenomenon.
Here we have a book with an original style, compell More...
Sharp Teeth is not one of those books. Instead it is exactly the sort of novel that makes the explosion in urban fantasy an excusable, and even necessary, phenomenon.
Here we have a book with an original style, compell More...
