A Good Read

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Poorna Bell and Tony Law Oct 15, 2019

Show notes

Writer Poorna Bell and comedian Tony Law join Harriett Gilbert to talk about their favourite books by Banana Yoshimoto, Lissa Evans and Voltaire.

Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto (translator – Megan Backus) Publisher: Faber

Old Baggage by Lissa Evans Publisher: Black Swan

Candide by Voltaire (translator – Roger Pearson) Publisher: Oxford University Press

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2019.

Edith Bowman & Harry Baker Oct 08, 2019

Show notes

Broadcaster Edith Bowman and poet Harry Baker join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Fredrik Backman and Deborah Levy.

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid Publisher: Hutchinson

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman [Translated by Henning Koch] Publisher: Sceptre

The Cost of Living by Deborah Levy Publisher: Penguin

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2019.

Colin Greenwood & Joanne McNally Oct 01, 2019

Show notes

Radiohead's bassist Colin Greenwood and Irish comedian Joanne McNally recommend great books to presenter Harriett Gilbert. Joanne's is This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor by Adam Kay. Colin goes for Homing by Jon Day and Harriett's is Bad Blood: A Walk Along the Irish Border by Colm Tóibín. First of a new series, follow us on instagram at @agoodreadbbc Producer Beth O'Dea

Photo credit: Alex Lake

Pam Hogg and Mark Billingham Jul 23, 2019

Show notes

Crime writer Mark Billingham and fashion designer Pam Hogg join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by Katherine Dunn, Dashiell Hammett and Lucy Mangan.

Geek Love by Katherine Dunn Publisher: Abacus

The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett Publisher: Orion

Bookworm by Lucy Mangan Publisher: Vintage

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2019.

Dolly Alderton & Clare Mackintosh Jul 16, 2019

Show notes

Author and podcaster Dolly Alderton and and crime writer Clare Mackintosh join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by Martin Amis, Emma Henderson and Cressida Connolly.

The Rachel Papers by Martin Amis Publisher: Vintage

Grace Williams Says It Loud by Emma Henderson Publisher: Sceptre

After the Party by Cressida Connolly Publisher: Penguin

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2019.

Dom Joly and Kate Hamer Jul 09, 2019

Show notes

Comedian Dom Joly, novelist Kate Hamer and Harriett Gilbert choose books by Rob Long, Barbara Comyns and Philip Kerr.

Conversations with My Agent by Rob Long Publisher: Bloomsbury

The Vet's Daughter by Barbara Comyns Publisher: Virago

March Violets by Philip Kerr Publisher: Penguin

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2019.

Mathew Baynton and Aasmah Mir Jul 02, 2019

Show notes

Horrible Histories actor Mathew Baynton and presenter Aasmah Mir join Harriett Gilbert. to discuss their favourite books by George Saunders, Iain Banks and Alison Jean Lester.

Tenth of December: Stories by George Saunders Publisher: Bloomsbury

The Crow Road by Iain Banks Publisher: Abacus

Lilian on Life by Alison Jean Lester Publisher: John Murray

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2019.

Nicci Gerrard and Gary Younge Jun 25, 2019

Show notes

Novelist Nicci Gerrard and journalist Gary Younge join Harriett Gilbert to talk about their favourite books. Gary chooses Brown Girl, Brownstones by Paule Marshall, the story of Barbadian immigrants living in Brooklyn in the 1930s and 40s. Nicci's favourite is Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner, a novel which takes a surprising turn halfway through and provokes a debate about the merits of sleeping in ditches. Harriett's selection is Calypso by David Sedaris, in which the American humorist introduces us to his family, a group of people almost as eccentric as he is. Join us on Instagram @agoodreadbbc Photo: Phil Fisk Producer Sally Heaven.

Cathy Newman and Jeffery Deaver Jun 18, 2019

Show notes

Channel 4 News host Cathy Newman and bestselling crime writer Jeffery Deaver join Harriett Gilbert to discuss favourite books by Annie Proulx, Min Kym and Amy Bloom.

The Shipping News by Annie Proulx Publisher: Fourth Estate

Gone: A Girl, a Violin, a Life Unstrung by Min Kym Publisher: Penguin

White Houses by Amy Bloom Publisher: Granta

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2019.

Kiri Pritchard-McLean and Hannah Peel Jun 12, 2019

Show notes

Comedian Kiri Pritchard-McLean and singer/composer Hannah Peel join Harriett Gilbert to discuss favourite books by Tsitsi Dangarembga, Italo Calvino, Curtis Sittenfeld.

Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino Publisher: Vintage (translator: William Weaver)

Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga Publisher: Ayebia

You Think It, I'll Say It by Curtis Sittenfeld Publisher: Black Swan

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2019.

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