Andrew Day embarks on a bicycle trip from Halifax to Kingston, his childhood home. As he goes, the dual narratives of Andrew's life emerge: the slow, painful death of his father and the disappearance of Betty, who may be lost to him forever. He contemplates, too, the nature of desire.

En route, Andrew sloughs off his fears, material goods, and attachments. In episodes of intensifying violence, he leaves the highway and rides the back roads under the cover of night. By the time he arrives home, an epiphany greets him.

Darryl Whetter writes with compelling intensity of athleticism and degeneration, isolation and community, the weight of desire and the joy and anguish present in all things.

A Sharp Tooth in the Fur is the first book by an accomplished writer, whose awards include the prestigious David H. Walker Prize for Fiction. His stories have appeared in The Danforth Review, The New Quarterly, Prism International, Dandelion, The Fiddlehead, and The Windsor Review, and three were featured in Coming Attractions '98. A frequent reviewer, Darryl Whetter's by-line has appeared on reviews in The Globe and Mail, The Ottawa Citizen, The New Brunswick Reader, and The National Post, and online at amazon.com and amazon.ca. He has appeared as a guest panelist on CBC Radio's Talking Books and as a film critic on ASN's Cinephile. A native of Orillia, Darryl Whetter studied at Queen's University in Kingston and at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, where he founded QWERTY and its internet edition, querte. He now teaches Creative Writing at the University of Windsor, where he took over the position vacated by Alistair MacLeod upon his retirement. During the summer months, he can be found at his cottage near Economy, Nova Scotia.

Darryl Whetter's profile page

" I found myself drawn into Andrew’s story, almost against my will. That says something for Whetter’s skill and talent."

<i>The Hamilton Spectator</i>

"Whetter’s story will surely pull you in with its poignant portions."

<i>Scene Magazine</i>

"What strikes most about The Push and the Pull was a feeling of authenticity. Though it thrums at a high volume, full of grief, desire, joy and regret, the story and its characters are believable."

<i>Monday Magazine</i>

"Whetter writes like a dream and he deserves our attention. He takes readers on a ride that is often bumpy but no less satisfying when you reach the final destination."

<i>The Chronicle Herald</i>