A Good Read

Latest Episodes:

Tim Coates and Jon Plowman Jul 17, 2012

Show notes

Harriet Gilbert and her guests - comedy producer, Jon Plowman and publisher, Tim Coates - discuss favourite books by James Christie, Tobias Wolff and Patrick deWitt.

Tim Coates' choice: 'Dear Miss Landau' by James Christie

Jon Plowman's choice: 'Old School' by Tobias Wolff

Harriett Gilbert's choice: 'The Sisters Brothers' by Patrick deWitt

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2012.

Sophi Tranchell and Alison Graham Jul 10, 2012

Show notes

Fairtrade entrepreneur Sophi Tranchell, Radio Times television critic Alison Graham, and presenter Harriett Gilbert discuss their favourite reads.

BOOKS FEATURED IN THE PROGRAMME Sophi Tranchell's choice: 'The Man from Beijing' by Henning Mankell

Alison Graham's choice: 'The Rain Before it Falls' by Jonathan Coe

Harriett Gilbert's choice: 'Our Man in Havana' by Graham Greene

Producer: John Byrne

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2012.

Rob Hopkins and Helen Castor Jul 03, 2012

Show notes

Harriet Gilbert and her guests - historian, Helen Castor and sustainability activist, Rob Hopkins, - discuss their favourite books by John Stewart Collis, William Golding and Marcelo Figeras.

Rob Hopkins' choice: 'The Worm Forgives the Plough' by John Stewart Collis Publisher: Random House

Helen Castor's choice: 'The Spire' by William Golding Publisher: Faber and Faber

Harriett Gilbert's choice: Kamchatka by Marcelo Figeras Publisher: Atlantic Books

Producer Christine Hall

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2012.

Constance Briscoe and Angela Saini Jun 26, 2012

Show notes

Harriett Gilbert and her guests - former barrister, Constance Briscoe and science journalist, Angela Saini - discuss favourite books by Jill Paton Walsh, Isaac Asimov and Muriel Spark.

Constance's choice: 'Knowledge Of Angels' by Jill Paton Walsh Publisher: Black Swan

Angela's choice: 'Foundation' by Isaac Asimov Publisher: Harper Collins

Harriett's choice: 'Curriculum Vitae' by Muriel Spark Publisher: Carcanet

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2012.

Ian Marchant and Larry Lamb Jun 19, 2012

Show notes

Harriett Gilbert' and her guests - actor, Larry Lamb (Gavin & Stacey) and writer, Ian Marchant.- discuss favourite books by Tim Winton, Alain Mabanckou and JL Carr.

Larry Lamb's choice: ‘Dirt Music’ by Tim Winton

Ian Marchant's choice: ‘How Steeple Sinderby Wanderers Won the FA Cup’ by JL Carr

Harriett Gilbert's choice: ‘African Psycho’ by Alain Mabanckou.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2012.

Michele Hanson and Roger Highfield Jun 12, 2012

Show notes

Columnist and author, Michele Hanson and Director of External Affairs at the Science Museum Group, Roger Highfield join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by Tobias Smollett, Siddhartha Mukherjee and John Le Carré.

Humphry Clinker by Tobias Smollett Publisher: Penguin Classic

The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee Publisher: Fourth Estate

A Murder of Quality by John le Carré Publisher: Penguin Modern Classics

First broadcast on Radio 4 in June 2012.

Maggie Aderin-Pocock and William Orbit Jun 05, 2012

Show notes

Harriett Gilbert and her guests - space scientist, Maggie Aderin-Pocock and music producer, William Orbit - discuss favourite books by John Wyndham, Janice Galloway and Tom Stoppard.

'Chocky' by John Wyndham Publisher: Penguin

'Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead' by Tom Stoppard Publisher: Faber and Faber

'Trick Is To Keep Breathing' by Janice Galloway Publisher: Vintage

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2012.

Steve Backshall and Geraldine Bedell May 29, 2012

Show notes

Deadly 60 presenter Steve Backshall and Editor of Gransnet Geraldine Bedell discuss their favourite books with Harriett Gilbert.

Geraldine picks 'The Idea of Perfection' by Kate Grenville, a touching romance between two people in the eccentric little backwater of Karakarook, Australia.

Steve opts for a chilling ghost-story set around a scientific expedition to the Arctic Circle in 1937 - 'Dark Matter' by Michelle Paver.

Harriett's choice is 'In the Country of Men' by Hisham Matar, a tender coming-of-age story about nine-year-old Suleiman who becomes the man of the house when his father goes away on business.

Producer: Toby Field

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2012.

Isy Suttie and Beverley Humphreys Mar 27, 2012

Show notes

Harriett Gilbert and her guests – comedian Isy Suttie and opera singer and broadcaster Beverley Humphreys - discuss favourite books by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, Ian McEwan and Daniel Keyes.

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, which Beverly describes as a "love letter to literature."

Isy picks The Comfort of Strangers by Ian McEwan, a sinister tale of two couples in an unnamed European town, which she admits does not have a particularly happy ending.

Harriett chooses the story of a young man with learning difficulties whose intelligence is enhanced by a scientific procedure - Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2012.

Frances Barber and Grace Dent Mar 20, 2012

Show notes

Harriett Gilbert and her guests – writer, Grace Dent and actress, Frances Barber - discuss favourite books by Nancy Mitford, Khaled Hosseini and Margaret Atwood.

From Bristol at BBC Radio 4's More Than Words Listening Festival.

Grace Dent chooses: Love in a Cold Climate by Nancy Mitford.

Frances Barber chooses A Thousand Splendid Suns by Aghan-born novelist Khaled Hosseini.

And Harriett Gilbert chooses: Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2012.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected