The Devil's Teeth

A True Story of Survival and Obsession Among America's Great White Sharks

By: Susan Casey

Narrated by: Kimberly Farr

Length: 10 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

Travel 30 miles north, south, or east of San Francisco city hall and you'll be engulfed in a landscape of thick traffic, fast enterprise, and $6 cappuccinos. Venture 30 miles due west, however, and you will find yourself on what is virtually another planet: a spooky cluster of rocky islands called the Farallones.

Journalist Susan Casey was in her living room when she first glimpsed this strange place and its resident sharks, their dark fins swirling around a tiny boat in a documentary. These great whites were the alphas among alphas, the narrator said, some of them topping 18 feet in length, and each fall they congregated here off the northern California coast. That so many of these magnificent and elusive animals lived in the 415 area code, crisscrossing each other under the surface like jets stacked in a holding pattern, seemed stunningly improbable and irresistible. Casey knew she had to see them for herself.

Within a matter of months she was in a 17-foot Boston Whaler, being hoisted up a cliff to face onto the barren surface of Southeast Farallon Island, part of the group known to 19th-century sailors as the "Devil's Teeth". There she joined the two biologists who study the sharks, bunking down in the island's one habitable building, a haunted, 120-year-old house spackled with lichen and gull guano. Less than 48 hours later she had her first encounter with the famous, terrifying jaws and was instantly hooked. Curiosity yielded to obsession, and when the opportunity arose to return for a longer stay she jumped at it. But as Casey readied herself for shark season, she had no way of preparing for what she would find among the dangerous, forgotten islands.

The Devil's Teeth offers a rare glimpse into the lives of nature's most mysterious predators, and of those who follow them. Here is a vivid dispatch from an otherworldly outpost, a story of crossing the boundary between society and an untamed place where humans are neither wanted nor needed.

©2005 Susan Casey (P)2005 Books on Tape, Inc.

Do not expect

I found this book a mixed bag. Events like the egg wars gave new flavor to the region and related a interesting history not found in standard text books. I also enjoyed the ecology of the islands, especially the bird colonies. What left me a little cold was the behavior of the author in researching the story and her experiences, such as they were, with shark observation. It would have been a more interesting story with her not in it.

Not Bad

I enjoyed the overall story. I wish there had been more direction, but what can you do with a story that’s being recounted by the author. It’s definitely an interesting listen, but I felt that it was a bit slow with no real climax. Which could again be attributed to the fact it’s a true story. If you like learning about new places and stepping into an authors shoes, then this book might be just right for you.

Not enough shark action for me

This was entertaining, but was more about misfortune while on a journalist's quest. Good history of the Farallon Islands is included, but I expected more hair-raising encounters with the Great Whites.

Mildly interesting

The narrator is pretty good, nothing to brag about though.

Based on the description, I was really excited for this book. It sounded like it would be a really deep dive into Great White Sharks.

Alas, no.

Okay, in fairness, it is a reasonably interesting story, if exceptionally backstory heavy and not all that terribly entertaining.

And yes, there's a little bit about Great Whites in the book, but there's a lot more about birds than sharks and this story of "survival" is almost devoid of suspense.

For all that the history parts feel like filler to enhance the page count, the island's history is actually the most interesting part.

In the end, I feel that I was misled into thinking I would enjoy this book.

Enjoyable listen that ends unexpectedly

What did you love best about The Devil's Teeth?

The interplay with the biologists and the sharks was the most engaging part of the story to me. I found it fascinating and wished there was more of it in the book (couldn't get enough of it)

What did you like best about this story?

The history of the islands was fascinating. It is well served to be intertwined with the story than presented separately

What about Kimberly Farr’s performance did you like?

I enjoyed the reader's voice. I found it engaging and conveyed the timbre of the story without over dramatizing.

Any additional comments?

I was left with a mixed reaction to the book. The results and consequences presented at the end changed my view of the author I had held for most all of the book. I would still recommend this listen to my friends that are interested in sharks or nature.

Love this book

I dream of the islands always hoping to catch a glimpse from the coast. This book is about the islands and the sharks two things this mainlander has always been fascinated by

Fascinating!

What did you love best about The Devil's Teeth?

Totally fascinating journey about white sharks and the Farallon Islands. I love nonfiction and this did not disappoint. I thought the reader was wonderful too.

Calling all shark junkies!

I love all of Susan’s books, but this one is really good if you love sharks! The Farallones have always been a magical place. Susan takes you front row onto the island itself and gives you a taste of what it’s like to be amongst the world’s Apex predators.

Perfectly performed, entertaining writing

As someone who lives not far from Bodega head the subject matter it was easy for me to be interested thru the whole book. The author is fun and talented and probably a bit of a trouble maker - which is great for telling stories. Its a great listen with a clean production.

Romance novel + diary + shark?

If you can stand the reader's voice for the whole book, then you may like something in here.
Her voice is the one from Ender's Game. Completely nonplused by anything. Very monotone.
Someone with a bit more energy would have made it a little better.... a little.
Things that annoyed me:
1) The adoration of the the two guys who run the unit at the Farallone Islands.
The guys are Gods in her eyes, and know Alll.....

2)The descriptions of everything are overly flowery. WAY, over flowery

3) After all the bashing, on Yuppies who pay money to see the sharks, are we then supposed to sympathize with her for sneaking, or bending/ breaking rules to go look at sharks she has no more right to see, then anyone else?

4)After spending a chapter on how many boat wrecks, and how treacherous the water, and the weather, is around the islands, and how many people have died: She rents a boat, to go out there without the slightest idea of how to do anything on a boat. Plans to stay for 5 weeks, and says "How hard could it Be?" ... well, you just TOLD Us, how hard!

5)Also the word "shark" is used in this book, more to grab your interest, then anything else. There is a lot about birds, and the islands, and boating, and ghosts, and about weather, and eating, and her dreams, and fears. I think there are about 6 sentences per chapter, about sharks, or use the word "shark" in it (as in: "You see over there, where there would normally be shark attacks? That is where the sea lions mate. The sea lion...bla bla bla"). I feel it was a publisher's judgment to put the word "shark" in the title, to get people to notice the book. I doubt people would buy this book, if they thought it was just a book about the islands. It's like telling the history of the music, then calling the book "Elvis. The king of Rock".