Chloe McDermott

Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison is a story about a woman, Rory, who comes home to her small town to look after her sister, Scarlet, during her pregnancy after her partner walks out on her. Then she is attacked and bitten by a werewolf.

It is all written in the first person and this may be something that is off putting to a lot of you. However, I really do think this story uses it in a way that enhances the reading experience. A werewolf experience told from their perspective is genius.

I for one have never had any problem reading in first person perspective and actually enjoy stories that use it. The Hunger Games being a great example of a book series that utilises it to its full advantage. The writer uses this perspective to a similar high standard. There is a clear thematic purpose and helps to focus our attention one hundred percent. We the reader are let into Rory’s head as she goes through this terrifying and intimate experience. We simply wouldn’t get such a clear exploration of the book’s themes or characterisation.

Rory’s transformation into a werewolf serves a metaphor for the isolating and horrifying experiences of womanhood. Not every woman has experienced trauma in the way Rory has, but unfortunately, I know a lot have. She goes through a lot of the story revealing more and more of her backstory as she comes to terms with the reality of what she will now have to go through each month. It is clear that the writer is using the werewolf myth to explore feminine rage. How anger in men and women is often viewed differently. The sources of this anger often being different too. Men’s anger often normalised to a point of expectation. Phrases like “Boys will be boys” etc. Women’s anger is deemed and seen as hysterical. All of which is rooted in misogyny. Whereas in reality anger is a deeply human, valid and important emotion. Everyone is able to feel it and express it.

 Rory and her expression/suppression of her anger is deeply relatable to me. Her anger stems from her trauma. The way she feels about being trapped in her old hometown, the way she feels about her mother etc. The way she has dealt with these emotions before is by running away as soon as she had the chance. It’s not even an expression of cowardice it’s a response to anger. A way of outright refusing to deal with conflict by vacating the fighting ring. It’s a coping mechanism I am all too familiar with trust me. When she is finally forced to be in close proximity with her past she is on edge and loses her patience easily. Again, very relatable to me personally. In fact, I can say with some certainty this is another aspect of this character many other women can also relate to.

To me the way Harrison wrote this character feels like she understands how trauma can affect women in their adulthood. How it affects the pursuit and upkeep of romantic relationships, affects friendships with other women and affects familial bonds too. She really captured how difficult that can be when trying to keep it all inside.

The writer really knows the benefit of keeping this story in the head of Rory. It makes everything feel all the rawer and more emotional. In my opinion she handles the discussions of Rory’s trauma with care and compassion. I think she uses the paranormal and body horror of the story to further the metaphors for the experience of womanhood. It makes for an equally entertaining and enriching. I could actually in someways describe it as therapeutic, as it might be for you too. It’s a book that embraces the ugliness of healing and realities of victim-hood. We don’t all look pretty when we cry or become stoic. We get mad, we howl and we bare our teeth.