A review by jaclyn_sixminutesforme
The Saturday Portraits by Maxine Beneba Clarke

5.0

I love what Maxine Beneba Clarke is doing with form in these “portraits”—they show such attention to detail in the act of observation and interviewing. They’re as much about this process as they are about the subject they are written about. It’s the intricacies and anecdotal details that made this such a terrific read, that and the insightful author notes that bookend the collection. The context of their publication, responses during edits and the critical reception pieces received. They’re also just fascinating windows into the lives of really interesting people, whether they be beloved writers or detested politicians. The subjects had varying degrees of agency in the process which in itself made for a really engaging read.