Find reading inspiration with favourite books chosen by our guests.
Writers Nina Stibbe and Kit de Waal join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by Kazuo Ishiguro, Lorrie Moore and Carson McCullers. The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro Publisher: Faber Self Help by Lorrie Moore Publisher: Faber Golden Eye by Carson McCullers Publisher: Penguin First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2018.
Writers Joanna Trollope and Sabrina Mahfouz join Harriett Gilbert to discuss favourite books by Penelope Fitzgerald, Omar Robert Hamilton and Ysenda Maxtone Graham. The Gate of Angels by Penelope Fitzgerald Publisher Harper Perennial The City Always Wins by Omar Robert Hamilton Publisher Faber Terms & Conditions: Life in Girls' Boarding Schools 1939-1979 by Ysenda Maxtone Graham Publisher Abacus First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2018.
Food writer, Diana Henry and Materials engineer/presenter Mark Miodownik join Harriett Gilbert to discuss favourite books by Gabrielle Hamilton, Flann O'Brien and Elizabeth Taylor. Blood, Bones & Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef by Gabrielle Hamilton Publisher: Vintage The Third Policeman by Flann O'Brien Publisher: Harper Perennial The Soul of Kindness by Elizabeth Taylor Publisher: Virago First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2018.
Columnists and authors Hadley Freeman and Sathnam Sanghera join Harriett Gilbert to their discuss favourite books by Melissa Bank, David Szalay and Junichiro Tanizaki. The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank Publisher: Penguin Spring by David Szalay Publisher: Vintage A Cat, a Man, and Two Women by Junichiro Tanizaki. Publisher: Daunt Books First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2018.
Broadcaster Steph McGovern and comedian Jayde Adams join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by Jon Ronson, Ann Cleeves and Carrie Fisher. So You've Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson Publisher: Picador The Seagull by Ann Cleeves Publisher: Pan Postcards from the Edge by Carrie Fisher Publisher: Scribner First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2018.
Comedian Jake Yapp and The Great British Bake Off contestant Ruby Tandoh join Harriett Gilbert to chat about books they love by René Goscinny, Nora Ephron and Ian McEwan. Nicholas Again by René Goscinny and Jean-Jacques Sempé (Translated by Anthea Bell) Publisher: Phaidon I Remember Nothing: and other reflections by Nora Ephron Publisher: Black Swan On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan Publisher: Vintage First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2018.
Actors Stephen Fry and Alan Davies reunite and join Harriett Gilbert to debate favourite books by Aldous Huxley, JM Coetzee and Muriel Spark. A Brave New World by Aldous Huxley Publisher: Vintage Boyhood by J.M. Coetzee Publisher: Vintage A Far Cry From Kensington by Muriel Spark Publisher: Virago First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2018.
Comedians Katy Brand and Nish Kumar join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by Philip Roth, Reni Eddo-Lodge and Christopher Reid. Portnoy's Complaint by Philip Roth Publisher: Vintage Why I'm No Longer Speaking To White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge Publisher: Bloomsbury A Scattering by Christopher Reid Publisher: Arete Books First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2017.
Meg Rosoff, Alexei Sayle and Harriett Gilbert discuss favourite books by Richard Hughes, Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson, and Donna Leon. A High Wind in Jamaica by Richard Hughes Publisher: Vintage Mistakes Were Made (But Not By Me) by Carol Tavris & Elliot Aronson Publisher: Pinter & Martin Donna Leon's Friends in High Places Publisher: Arrow First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2017.
Writers Cathy Rentzenbrink and Jon McGregor join Harriett Gilbert to discuss favourite books by Amy Leach, Penelope Lively and Alan Johnson. Things That Are by Amy Leach Publisher: Canongate Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively Publisher: Penguin This Boy by Alan Johnson Publisher: Corgi First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2017.
Presenters Rick Edwards and George Lamb join Harriett Gilbert to talk about their favourite books by Dave Eggers, Jane Gardam and Yvon Chouinard. Heroes of the Frontier by Dave Eggers Publisher: Penguin Queen of the Tambourine by Jane Gardam Publisher: Abacus Let My People Go Surfing by Yvon Chouinard Publisher: Penguin First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2017.
Author Jenny Colgan and writer/performer Steven Camden (Polarbear) join Harriett Gilbert to discuss favourite books by Jon Krakauer, Antoine de Saint-Exupery and Jim Carroll. Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer Publisher: Pan The Basketball Diaries by Jim Carroll Publisher: Penguin The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery Publisher: Egmont First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2017.
Comedy writer Andrew Hunter Murray and writer, actress and filmmaker Alice Lowe join Harriett Gilbert to discuss favourite books by Winifred Watson, Miranda July and Margaret Drabble. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson Publisher: Persephone The First Bad Man by Miranda July Publisher: Canongate The Millstone by Margaret Drabble Publisher: Penguin First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2017.
Journalist Georgia Lewis Anderson and writer Owen Jones join Harriett Gilbert to discuss favourite books by Alan Hollinghurst, Sybille Bedford and Naomi Alderman. The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst Publisher: Picador The Trial of Lady Chatterley's Lover by Sybille Bedford Publisher: Daunt Books The Power by Naomi Alderman Publisher: Penguin First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2017.
Actress Sally Lindsay and playwright Jonathan Harvey join Harriett Gilbert to discuss favourite books by Sue Townsend, Christopher Douglas and Angela Carter. The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole by Sue Townsend Publisher: Puffin I, An Actor, by Nicholas Craig. (Written by Christopher Douglas and Nigel Planer). Publisher: Methuen Wise Children by Angela Carter Publisher: Vintage First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2017
Writers Toby Young and Sarah Vine join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by Lionel Davidson, John Preston and Jan Morris. Kolymsky Heights by Lionel Davidson Publisher: Faber A Very English Scandal by John Preston Publisher: Virago Conundrum by Jan Morris Publisher: Faber Producer: Sally Heaven First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2017.
Beauty journalist Sali Hughes and author John Niven join Harriett Gilbert to discuss favourite books by Steve Tesich, Nora Ephron and Fred Vargas. Heartburn by Nora Ephron Publisher: Virago Karoo by Steve Tesich Publisher: Vintage Wash This Blood Clean from My Hand by Fred Vargas Publisher: Vintage First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2017.
TV presenters Stacey Dooley and author Gaia Vince join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by Laline Paull, Jon McGregor and Elizabeth Strout. The Bees by Laline Paull Publisher: 4th Estate If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things by Jon McGregor Publisher: 4th Estate My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout Publisher: Penguin First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2017.
Theatre director/writer/actor Kathy Burke and comedian Tom Allen join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by Patrick Hamilton, John Walters and Barbara Pym. Hangover Square by Patrick Hamilton Publisher: Penguin Role Models by John Walters Publisher: Macmillan Crampton Hodnet by Barbara Pym Publisher: Macmillan First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2017.
Actor Bill Paterson and tech philosopher Tom Chatfield join Harriett Gilbert' to discuss their favourite books by Christopher Hitchens, Terry Pratchett and Dava Sobel. Small Gods by Terry Pratchett Publisher: Corgi Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time by Dava Sobel Publisher: Harper Perennial Mortality by Christopher Hitchens Publisher: Atlantic Books First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2017.
Harriett Gilbert talks favourite books with music presenter Verity Sharp and table tennis champion turned author Matthew Syed. Their books are The Man Who Planted Trees by Jean Giono, Anglo-Saxon Attitudes by Angus Wilson and Chéri by Colette. These spark deeply-felt argument over whether planting trees can save the earth and also insights into the ideal of getting back to the land, the process of ageing for women who've lived by their looks and the peculiar nature of British reserve as observed...
Comedian, Nathan Caton and science presenter and geneticist, Adam Rutherford join Harriett Gilbert. The trio discuss favourite books by Paul Auster, Juan Pablo Villalobos and Paul Canoville. Leviathan by Paul Auster Publisher: Faber Black and Blue: How Racism, Drugs and Cancer Almost Destroyed Me by Paul Canoville Publisher: Headline I'll Sell You A Dog by Juan Pablo Villalobos Publisher: And Other Stories First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2017.
Comedians Ed Byrne and Hardeep Singh Kohli talk to Harriett Gilbert about favourite books. It's a bit of a Scotfest: Ed's is Quite Ugly One Morning by Christopher Brookmyre, Hardeep's The Prime of Miss Brodie by Muriel Spark and then Harriett introduces them to The Seven Good Years by little-known Israeli writer Etgar Keret - with mixed results.. Producer Beth O'Dea.
Writers Will Self and Rachel Johnson join Harriett Gilbert to discuss favourite books by Raymond Carver, JR Ackerley and Doris Lessing. What We Talk About When We Talk About Love: A collection of short stories by Raymond Carver. Publisher: Vintage My Father and Myself, by JR Ackerley. Publisher: The New York Review of Books The Grass is Singing by Doris Lessing Publisher: Fourth Estate First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2017.
Doctor twins and broadcasters Chris and Xand van Tulleken join presenter Harriett Gilbert to discuss favourite books by Samuel Shem, James Fenton and Evelyn Waugh. The House of God by Samuel Shem Publisher Black Swan Yellow Tulips Poems 1968 - 2011 by James Fenton Publisher Faber Vile Bodies by Evelyn Waugh Publisher Penguin First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2017.
Former Labour MP Harriet Harman and music journalist Pete Paphides join Harriett Gilbert to discuss favourite books by Lionel Shriver, Julian Cope and Angela Carter. We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver Publisher Serpents Tail Head On by Julian Cope Publisher Element Nothing Sacred: Selected Writings by Angela Carter Publisher Virago First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2017.
Actor Sir Tony Robinson and Chef and broadcaster Andi Oliver join Harriett Gilbert to discuss favourite books by Nickolas Butler, James Baldwin and Elizabeth Taylor. Shotgun Lovesongs by Nickolas Butler Publisher: Picador Go Tell it on the Mountain by James Baldwin Publisher: Penguin Angel by Elizabeth Taylor Publisher: Virago First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2017.
Satirist Craig Brown and comedian Pippa Evans join Harriett Gilbert to talk about favourite books by George Orwell, Simon Gray and DBC Pierre. Enter A Fox by Simon Gray Publisher: Faber Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell Publisher: Penguin Vernon God Little by DBC Pierre. Publisher: Faber First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2017.
Poet Murray Lachlan Young and Guilty Feminist' podcaster Deborah Frances-White join Harriett Gilbert to discuss favourite books by Robert Graves, Ajay Close and Toni Morrison. Goodbye to All That by Robert Graves Publisher: Penguin A Petrol Scented Spring by Ajay Close Publisher: Sandstone Press Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison Publisher: Vintage The books spark some fiery discussion about gender and race. First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2017.
Author Lionel Shriver and comedian Mae Martin join Harriett Gilbert to talk about books they love by John Knowles, HG Wells and Anne Enright. A Separate Peace by John Knowles Publisher: Simon & Schuster The Door in The Wall by HG Wells Publisher: Read Books/HG Wells Library The Gathering by Anne Enright Publisher: Vintage Producer: Beth O'Dea First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2017.
