A Good Read

Latest Episodes:

Laurie Anderson & Stuart Maconie Jun 30, 2020

Show notes

American avant-garde artist Laurie Anderson and BBC 6 Music DJ Stuart Maconie join Harriett Gilbert to chat about their favourite books by Hunter S Thompson, LTC Rolt and James Lever.

Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas by Hunter S Thompson Publisher: Harper Perennial

Sleep No More by LTC Rolt Publisher: The History Press

Me Cheetah: The Autobiography by James Lever Publisher: Fourth Estate

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2020.

Val McDermid & Martha Lane Fox Jun 23, 2020

Show notes

Crime writer Val McDermid and businesswoman Martha Lane Fox join Harriett Gilbert to discuss favourite books by Emma Smith, Ali Smith and Patrick Hamilton. From 2020.

This Is Shakespeare: How to Read the World's Greatest Playwright by Emma Smith Publisher: Pelican

How to be Both by Ali Smith Publisher: Penguin

The Slaves of Solitude by Patrick Hamilton Publisher: Little Brown

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2020.

Pippa Haywood & Felicity Montagu Jun 16, 2020

Show notes

Actresses and friends Pippa Haywood (Greenwing, The Bodyguard) and Felicity Montagu (Alan Partridge) talk about their favourite books with Harriett Gilbert. They are: The Salt Path by Raynor Winn, Three Hours by Rosamund Lupton, and Ethel & Ernest by Raymond Briggs. They may be old friends, but do they have the same taste in books? Follow us on Instagram @agoodreadbbc to share your thoughts on books and more. Producer: Becky Ripley.

Natalie Carter & Melissa Cummings-Quarry Jun 09, 2020

Show notes

The two founders of Black Girls Book Club, Natalie Carter and Melissa Cummings-Quarry join Harriett Gilbert to talk about their favourite books by Alice Walker, Virginia Woolf and Zora N Hurston.

The Color Purple by Alice Walker Publisher: Orion

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston Publisher: Virago

Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf Publisher: Vintage

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2020.

Nazir Afzal & Maggie Gee Apr 03, 2020

Show notes

Nazir Afzal prosecuted dozens of men responsible for grooming young girls during his time as head of the CPS in the North West of England. His role was dramatised in BBC1's harrowing Three Girls series which told the story of three teenage girls who were abused by a gang of Asian men. He is a strong advocate for women and his choice of book reflects this. It's the late journalist Sue Lloyd Roberts' The War on Women. Novelist Maggie Gee has written many books including My Driver, My Cleaner and The Flood. She has chosen The First Breath by Olivia Gordon which she describes as a rather neglected book on the lives of pre-term babies, their parents and the doctors and nurses in a premature babies unit. She calls it "riveting, touching and informative." Harriett's choice is Waiting for the Barbarians by JM Coetzee, the story of a magistrate in an unnamed colonial town on the edge of the British Empire where the indigenous people are referred to as 'barbarians'. These books provoke some very interesting discussion. Tell us what you think on @agoodreadbbc

THE WAR ON WOMEN By Sue Lloyd Roberts THE FIRST BREATH by Olivia Gordon WAITING FOR THE BARBARIANS by JM Coetzee

Producer: Maggie Ayre

Helen Lederer & Angela Barnes Mar 24, 2020

Show notes

Comedians Helen Lederer and Angela Barnes and presenter Harriett Gilbert discuss books by David Nicholls, Alan Taylor and Anna Funder.

The Understudy by David Nicholls Publisher: Hodder

Appointment in Arezzo by Alan Taylor Publisher: Polygon

Stasiland by Anna Funder Publisher: Granta

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2020.

Sharleen Spiteri & Hugh Dennis Mar 17, 2020

Show notes

Texas frontwoman Sharleen Spiteri and comedian Hugh Dennis join Harriett Gilbert to discuss books by Renee Knight, Peter Ackroyd and Caitlin Moran.

The Secretary by Renee Knight Publisher: Black Swan

Hawksmoor by Peter Ackroyd Publisher: Penguin

How to be a Woman by Caitlin Moran Publisher: Ebury Press

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2020.

Henry Normal & Bobby Seagull Mar 10, 2020

Show notes

Maths genius Bobby Seagull and poet and comedy writer Henry Normal join presenter Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by Richard Bach, Brian Bilston and William Golding.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach Publisher: Thorsons

Diary of a Somebody by Brian Bilston Publisher: Picador

Lord of the Flies by William Golding Publisher: Faber

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2020.

Neil Oliver & Neil Forsyth Mar 03, 2020

Show notes

Author Neil Forsyth and historian Neil Oliver join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by John Lewis-Stempel, Alexander Masters and Sara Paretsky.

The Glorious Life of the Oak by John Lewis-Stempel Publisher Doubleday

Stuart a Life Backwards by Alexander Masters Publisher Fourth Estate

Indemnity Only by Sara Paretsky Publisher Hodder

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2020.

Richard Harrington & Njambi McGrath Feb 25, 2020

Show notes

Actor Richard Harrington and comedian Njambi McGrath join Harriett Gilbert to discuss books by Clive James, Chigozie Obioma and Hannelore Cayre.

Unreliable Memoirs by the late Clive James Publisher: Picador

The Fisherman by Chigozie Obioma Publisher: One

The Godmother by Hannelore Cayre Publisher: Old Street Publishing

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2020.