May 8, 2004

Subject: Aiden Baker's review of Spells: "miserable, stunted, culture deprived..."

To date my experiences with the Danforth Review have been pretty pleasant. It keeps me clued up with what's going on in the small press scene in Canada- I check it pretty much every day from my computer at work. 

That said, Aidan Baker's review of Spells by R.M Vaughn is without a doubt one of the most miserable and depressing bits of "criticism" to crawl out of the web. Baker starts with some obscure slagging of New Brunswick and it goes downhill from there. Apparently those of us living in N.B are nowhere near as evolved as our hip Torontarionian counterparts. 

In fact, "gritty realism" was originally coined to describe not only N.B. but Atlantic Canada in general. As a taxpayer I am relieved to know that the Canada Council grants are money well spent! Viva la small press! And other matters of insignifigance! Perhaps the Danforth without Atlantic Canada is even smaller and more insignificant!

Cheers, etc

Matt Stranach

Fredericton, NB