A Good Read

Latest Episodes:

Greg James & Bella Mackie Mar 17, 2021

Show notes

Husband-and-wife team: Greg James, host of BBC Radio 1's Breakfast show and Bella Mackie, author and Vogue columnist join Harriett Gilbert to discuss favourite books by PG Wodehouse, Maggie O’Farrell and John le Carré.

Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell Publisher: Tinder Press

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold by John le Carré Publisher: Penguin

Right Ho, Jeeves! by PG Wodehouse Publisher: Arrow Books

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2021.

Jane Hill & Derek Owusu Mar 09, 2021

Show notes

BBC News presenter Jane Hill and writer Derek Owusu join Harriet Gilbert to discuss books by Kate Summerscale, Mark Olden and F. Scott Fitzgerald.

The Suspicions of Mr Whicher by Kate Summerscale Publisher: Bloomsbury

Murder in Notting Hill by Mark Olden Publisher: Zero Books

Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald Publisher: Penguin

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2021.

Twayna Mayne & Simon Savidge Mar 02, 2021

Show notes

Comedian Twayna Mayne and books blogger Simon Savidge join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by Claudia Rankine, Tayari Jones and Anne Enright.

Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine Publisher: Penguin

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones Publisher: One World

Actress by Anne Enright Publisher: Jonathan Cape

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2021.

Amrou Al-Kadhi & Peter Bazalgette Feb 23, 2021

Show notes

Writer and drag performer Amrou Al-Kadhi and TV executive Peter Bazalgette join Harriett to dsicuss favourite books by Laura Cumming, Leila Slimani and Katherine Heiny.

On Chapel Sands by Laura Cumming Publisher: Vintage

Lullaby by Leila Slimani Publisher: Faber

Standard Deviation by Katherine Heiny Publisher: 4th Estate

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2021.

Tobias Menzies & Gytha Lodge Feb 16, 2021

Show notes

Actor Tobias Menzies and crime writer Gytha Lodge join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by Rachel Cusk, Judith Kerr, and Helen Garner.

Transit by Rachel Cusk Publisher: Jonathan Cape ( Faber)

The Spare Room by Helen Garner Publisher: Canongate Canons

The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr Publisher: HarperCollins Children’s Books

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2021.

Tuppence Middleton & Matthew Shribman Feb 09, 2021

Show notes

Actress Tuppence Middleton and environmentalist Matthew Shribman join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by Thomas Bernhard, Italo Calvino, Deborah Levy.

The Baron in the Trees by Italo Calvino Publisher: Vintage [Translator: Ann Goldstein]

The Loser by Thomas Bernhard Publisher: Faber [Translator: Jack Dawson]

Hot Milk by Deborah Levy Publisher: Penguin

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2021.

Helen Mort & Mo Omar Feb 02, 2021

Show notes

Poet Helen Mort and comedian Mo Omar join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by M. John Harrison, Nnedi Okorafor and Nicole Krauss.

Climbers by M. John Harrison Publisher: Gollancz

Binti by Nnedi Okorafor Publisher: Tor.com

A History of Love by Nicole Krauss Publisher: Penguin

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2021.

Clive Myrie & Boyd Tonkin Dec 01, 2020

Show notes

Journalist Clive Myrie and critic Boyd Tonkin nominate favourite books. Clive, fresh from covering the US election, has chosen Steinbeck's tale of the Great Depression, The Grapes of Wrath. Boyd recommends Hadji Murat, the last work of Leo Tolstoy, and Harriett goes for the political thriller Red April by Peruvian writer Santiago Roncagliolo. Join the conversation on Instagram at agoodreadbbc Producer Sally Heaven

Alexander McCall Smith & Prof Lucie Green Nov 24, 2020

Show notes

Writer Alexander McCall Smith and UCL's Department of Space & Climate Physics, Professor Lucie Green, join Harriett Gilbert to discuss favourite books by Somerset Maugham, John Higgs and Lewis Carroll.

The Painted Veil by Somerset Maugham Publisher: Heinemann

Watling Street by John Higgs Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson

Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll Publisher: Macmillan

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2020.

Vanessa Kisuule & Jonathon Porritt Nov 16, 2020

Show notes

Poet Vanessa Kisuule and environmental writer Jonathon Porritt join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by John Hersey, Nick Drnaso and Helen Dunmore.

Hiroshima by John Hersey Publisher: Penguin

Sabrina by Nick Drnaso Publisher: Granta Inside the Wave by Helen Dunmore Publisher: Bloodaxe

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2020.