Find reading inspiration with favourite books chosen by our guests.
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.
Joy Division and New Order drummer Stephen Morris and comedian and songwriter Pippa Evans join Harriett Gilbert to discuss favourite books by Tim Winton, David Keenan and William Trevor. The Shepherd's Hut by Tim Winton Publisher: Picador This is Memorial Device by David Keenan Publisher: Faber The Story of Lucy Gault by William Trevor Publisher: Penguin First broadcast on Radio 4 in June 2019. *** Photo by Warren Jackson
Actor Nicola Walker and Peppa Pig voice artist Sarah Ann Kennedy join Harriett Gilbert to discuss favourite books by Gillian Flynn, Elena Passarello and Carly Simon. Animals Strike Curious Poses by Elena Passarello Publisher: Penguin Dark Places by Gillian Flynn Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicholson Boys in the Trees by Carly Simon Publisher: Hachette First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2019.
Comedian and broadcaster Ayesha Hazarika and cartoonist-author Martin Rowson join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by Elena Ferrante, Rohan O'Grady and Michael Ondaatje. My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante Translator - Ann Goldstein Publisher: Europa Editions Let's Kill Uncle by Rohan O'Grady Publisher: Bloomsbury The Skin of A Lion by Michael Ondaatje Publisher: Picador First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2019.
Actors Sarah Hadland and Russell Tovey join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by Annie Proulx, Quentin Crisp and Muriel Barbery. Close Range: Brokeback Mountain by Annie Proulx Publisher: Harper Perennial The Elegance of The Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery Translator: Alison Anderson Publisher: Gallic The Naked Civil Servant by Quentin Crisp Publisher: Flamingo First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2019.
Poet Lemn Sissay and writer Mick Herron join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by JM Coetzee, Caroline Blackwood and John Steinbeck. The Life and Times of Michael K by JM Coetzee Publisher: Vintage Great Granny Webster by Caroline Blackwood Publisher: New York Review of Books Sweet Thursday by John Steinbeck Publisher: Penguin First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2019.
BBC presenter Kate Bottley and comedian Ken Cheng join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by Amy Chua, Cole Morton and Carlo Rovelli. The Boy Who Gave His Heart Away by Cole Morton Publisher: Harper Collins Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua Publisher: Bloomsbury Seven Brief Lessons on Physics by Carlo Rovelli Translated by Erica Segre and Simon Carnell Publisher: Penguin First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2019.
Singer and author Tracey Thorn and writer Maggie O'Farrell join Harriett Gilbert discuss their favourite books by Susie Boyt, Barbara Trapido and Kate Atkinson. My Judy Garland Life by Susie Boyt Publisher: Virago The Travelling Hornplayer by Barbara Trapido Publisher: Bloomsbury Case Histories by Kate Atkinson Publisher: Black Swan First broadcast on Radio 4 in February 2019.
Writer Frank Cottrell-Boyce and comic Lucy Porter join Harriett Gilbert to discuss favourite books by Mervyn Peake, Terry Pratchett and Dashiell Hammett. Letters from a Lost Uncle by Mervyn Peake Publisher: Methuen Truckers by Terry Pratchett Publisher: Corgi Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett Publisher: Orion First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2019.
Author and journalist Kamal Ahmed and naturalist and presenter Brett Westwood join Harriett Gilbert to discuss favourite books by by Michael Faber, James Baldwin and Ruth Rendell. Under the Skin by Michel Faber Publisher: Canongate Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin Publisher: Penguin The Keys to the Street by Ruth Rendell. Publisher: Hutchinson First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2019.
Writer and activist Scarlett Curtis and comedian Catherine Bohart join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by Maggie Nelson, Anna Burns and Sayaka Murata. The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson Publisher: Melville House Milkman by Anna Burns Publisher: Faber Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata Publisher: Portobello Books First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2019.
Gráinne Maguire, John Higgs and Harriett Gilbert discuss favourite books by Jeremy Lent, Elaine Dundy and Beryl Bainbridge. The Dud Avocado by Elaine Dundy Publisher: Virago The Patterning Instinct by Jeremy Lent Publisher: Prometheus Books The Dressmaker by Beryl Bainbridge Publisher: Abacus First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2018.
Former SAS serviceman turned thriller writer Andy McNab, George the Poet and Harriett Gilbert discuss their favourite books by Akala, Attica Locke and Joe Simpson. Touching the Void by Joe Simpson Publisher: Vintage Natives by Akala Publisher: Two Roads Bluebird Bluebird by Attica Locke Publisher: Serpent's Tail First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2018.
Authors Kamila Shamsie and Jeffrey Archer join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by Fred Uhlman, Shehan Karunatilaka and Penelope Fitzgerald. ‘Reunion’ by Fred Uhlman Publisher: Vintage ‘Chinaman’ by Shehan Karunatilaka Publisher: Vintage ‘The Bookshop’ by Penelope Fitzgerald Publisher: 4th Estate First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2018.
Proms presenter and Strictly Come Dancing star, Katie Derham and writer, Matt Haig join Harriett Gilbert to discuss favourite books by Linda Grant, SE Hinton and Anne Tyler. The Dark Circle by Linda Grant Publisher: Virago The Outsiders by SE Hinton Publisher: Penguin Breathing Lessons by Anne Tyler Publisher: Vintage First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2018.
Comedians Sindhu Vee, Phil Wang join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by Celeste Ng, Rose George and Vivek Shanbhag. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng Publisher: Abacus Deep Sea and Foreign Going by Rose George Publisher: Portobello Ghachar Ghochar by Vivek Shanbhag Publisher: Faber [Translator: Srinath Perur] First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2018.
Actor Liz Carr and historian and writer, Kate William join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by Penny Pepper, Murasaki Shikibu and Jenny Erpenbeck. First In The World Somewhere by Penny Pepper Publisher: Unbound Diary of Lady Murasaki by Murasaki Shikibu Publisher: Penguin [Translator: Richard Bowring] Visitation by Jenny Erpenbeck [Translator: Susan Bernofsky) Publisher: Portobello Books First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2018.
Comedian, writer and actor Ben Miller and writer Danny Wallace join Harriett Gilbert discuss their favourite books by AA Milne, William Trevor and George and Weedon Grossmith. Winnie the Pooh by AA Milne Publisher: Ishi Press International Diary of a Nobody by George and Weedon Grossmith Publisher: Wordsworth Classics Children of Dynmouth by William Trevor Publisher: Penguin First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2018.
Journalist Grace Dent and comedy writer Sian Harries join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by Max Porter, Lissa Evans and Barbara Pym. Grief is the Thing with Feathers by Max Porter Publisher: Faber Crooked Heart by Lissa Evans Publisher: Black Swan Excellent Women by Barbara Pym Publisher: Virago First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2018.
Writers Nikesh Shukla and Leone Ross join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by Thomas Page McBee, Jean Toomer and Arundhati Roy. Amateur by Thomas Page McBee Publisher: Canongate Cane by Jean Toomer Publisher: Liveright The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy. Publisher: Harper Perennial First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2018.
Actor Anne-Marie Duff and writer Louise O’Neill join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by Maggie O’Farrell, Sally Rooney and Angela Carter. I Am, I Am, I Am by Maggie O’Farrell. Publisher: Tinder Press Conversations With Friends by Sally Rooney. Publisher: Faber Nights At The Circus by Angela Carter. Publisher: Vintage First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2018.
Journalist and broadcaster Samira Ahmed and comedian Elis James join Harriett Gilbert to discuss favourite books by Arnold Bennett, Dylan Thomas and Daniyal Mueenuddin. In Other Rooms, Other Wonders by Daniyal Mueenuddin Publisher: Bloomsbury The Card by Arnold Bennett Publisher: Penguin Portrait of the Artist as a Young Dog by Dylan Thomas Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicholson First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2018.
Writer and actress, Isy Suttie and comedian, Lolly Adefope join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by Ottessa Moshfegh, Meg Wolitzer and Carol Ann Duffy. Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh Publisher: Vintage The Wife by Meg Wolitzer Publisher: Vintage Meantime by Carol Ann Duffy Publisher: Picador First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2018.
Food lover Loyd Grossman and singer Skin from rock band Skunk Anansie join Harriett Gilbert to discuss favourite books by W Somerset Maugham, Colston Whitehead and Kapka Kassabova. Cakes and Ale by W Somerset Maugham Publisher: Vintage The Underground Railroad by Colston Whitehead Publisher: Fleet Twelve Minutes of Love: A Tango Story by Kapka Kassabova. Publisher: Portobello Books First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2018.
Writers Juno Dawson and Pandora Sykes join Harriett Gilbert to discuss favourite books by Francoise Sagan, William Gibson and Laura Barnett. Bonjour Tristesse by Francoise Sagan Publisher: Penguin Neuromancer by William Gibson Publisher: Gollancz The Versions of Us by Laura Barnett Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2018.
Journalist and broadcaster Tony Parsons and podcast presenter Olly Mann join Harriett Gilbert to discuss favourite books by Liane Moriarty, Edward St Aubyn and Norton Juster. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty Publisher: Penguin Never Mind by Edward St Aubyn Publisher: Picador The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster Publisher: Harper Collins First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2018.
Two former doctors, Adam Kay and Farrah Jarral, join Harriett Gilbert to talk about their favourite books by David Sedaris, Per Petterson and Mohsin Hamid. Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris Publisher: Abacus I Curse the River of Time by Per Petterson Publisher: Vintage Exit West by Mohsin Hamid Publisher: Penguin First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2018.
Comic actor and writer Robert Webb and award-winning journalist Hugo Rifkind join Harriett Gilbert to discuss some favourite books by Graham Swift, Douglas Adams and Sam Miller. Waterland by Graham Swift. Publisher: Picador Life, The Universe and Everything by Douglas Adams Publisher: Pan Books Fathers to the table by Sam Miller Publisher: Vintage First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2018.
Comedians Phill Jupitus and Robin Ince join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by Hans Richter, Arkady & Strugatsky and Bill Beverly. Dada: Art and Anti-Art by Hans Richter Publisher: Thames and Hudson Roadside Picnic by Arkady & Boris Strugatsky Publisher: Gollancz Dodgers by Bill Beverly Publisher: No Exit Press First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2018.
Writer Bernardine Evaristo and comedian Jolyon Rubinstein join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by Leone Ross, William Boyd and Cyril Hare. Come Let Us Sing Anyway by Leone Ross Publisher: People Tree Any Human Heart by William Boyd Publisher : Penguin An English Murder by Cyril Hare Publisher : Faber First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2018.
