February 9, 2004

Subject: Reviews by Kane X. Kaucher

Dear Editors,

Pardon me, but what's the deal with this fellow and his reviews? They're quite horrid. I've always found your reviews mostly helpful, and usually quite balanced---but, most of all, understandable. I'm an educated enough fellow, but this guy strikes me as one those fellows who used to plague certain university classes, someone who delighted in using ten-dollar words, when a few simple 10-centers would do (and do BETTER), someone whose own ego and need to prove his own intellect got in the way of whatever they were trying to say/do/present. 

I must admit to not having read the books (are they poetry or prose? the reviews give almost no indication that I could see) Faucher is "reviewing," but he's certainly doing the authors no favors, as I find myself not wanting to read them because I find the reviews so thoroughly off-putting. 

I honestly don't know what his reviews are doing here, on a site that I've always found quite good for the presentation of reviews. I think Faucher embodies the very worst of what a reviewer can sometimes be; that is, his review is basically self-hype, an opportunity to prove how wordy he is and put himself above the work under review, make himself the focal point instead of the work. 

It's upsetting that you've put his reviews up, really, because I think it brings down the level of the Danforth's reviews overall. I'd be surprised if other readers didn't feel the same way---in fact, I'd be surprised if many other readers made it to the end of a Faucher review, and, if they did, would be able to tell you what it was about, what specifically was said about the book/poetry collection, and whether they would consider seeking out that work based on what was written. 

Overall, I think his presence is a disservice to the reviewed authors, to the readers, and to the Danforth. The only person who benefits, as far as I can see, is Kane X. Faucher (which, by the way, is a ridiculous pseudonym). 

Take care, Craig Davidson

---good Lord, I just went and read his reviews again, in case I'd missed something or was being unduly harsh. I mean, do you ENJOY these reviews? I'm baffled. They're some of the worst, most pretentious and self-serving things I've ever had the misfortune to read. They're just...awful.

In any case, except for Mr. Faucher's contributions, I'd like to say I enjoy this site, especially the reviews (except Kane X).