Reviewed by Isabella Agostino

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Dorky move on my part (I’m also reading the James Baldwin edition now), but I’m a massive fan of these!

The text is thoughtfully structured, with special attention paid to the elegant layout of the page. The margins leave room to breathe (or space for taking notes). The back-and-forth feels engaging. On the whole, each piece reads less like a simple transcription of an interview and more like a fictional dialogue. The collection flows really well and feels like a conversation. The editors selected a great mix of interviews.

It’s quick and packed, so have your highlighter ready!

For anyone wanting more Joan Didion, this is a fantastic supplement. Sure, one could find these interviews online with some digging, but that can be said of a lot of material we choose to buy in book form anyway. 😎

Reading this also inspired me to dive into Joan Didion’s fiction, which I’ve been reluctant to explore. She discusses some of her writing processes here.