Find reading inspiration with favourite books chosen by our guests.
Actor Nina Sosanya and writer David Nicholls share their favourite books with Harriett. Nina chooses The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, The Girls of Slender Means by Muriel Spark is David's favourite. Harriett picks Beneath the Streets by Adam Macqueen, a thriller which asks: what if Jeremy Thorpe's hired thugs had been successful? Producer Sally Heaven Follow us on Instagram at @agoodreadbbc
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.
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.
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.
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 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 T...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Authors Gail Honeyman and Mavis Cheek join Harriett Gilbert to discuss favourite books by Charlotte Bronte, Catherine O'Flynn and Penelope Fitzgerald. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte Publisher: Penguin Classics What Was Lost by Catherine O'Flynn Publisher: Profile Books The Beginning of Spring by Penelope Fitzgerald: Publisher: Fourth Estate First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2020.
Screenwriter Sarah Phelps and comedian Dane Baptiste talk to Harriett Gilbert about books they love. Sarah chooses Music for Chameleons by Truman Capote, Harriett's pick is A View of the Harbour by (the other) Elizabeth Taylor and Dane defends Weapons of Mass Instruction, a critique of contemporary schooling by John Taylor Gatto. Please follow us on Instagram at @agoodreadbbc Producer Sally Heaven.
Co-founder of the Bradford Literature Festival, Syima Aslam and journalist Stig Abell join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by Jane Austen, JK Rowling and Virginia Woolf. Both are part of the expert panel that chose the BBC’s 100 Novels That Shaped Our World. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by JK Rowling Publisher: Bloomsbury Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Publisher: Penguin Orlando by Virginia Woolf Publisher: Vintage First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2020...
Author Nick Hornby and Italian physicist Carlo Rovelli join Harriett Gilbert to discuss favourite books by Viv Albertine, Fyodor Dostoyevsky and Tobias Wolf. ‘Throw Away, Unopened’ by Viv Albertine. Publisher: Faber ‘White Nights’ by Fyodor Dostoyevsky Publisher: Penguin ‘Old School’ by Tobias Wolff Publisher: Bloomsbury First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2020.
Comedian Russell Kane and novelist Sarah Perry join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by Iris Murdoch, Heinrich Boll and Shirley Jackson. The Train Was On Time by Heinrich Boll, translated by Leila Vennewitz Publisher Penguin Under the Net by Iris Murdoch Publisher Vintage Life Among the Savages by Shirley Jackson, her slightly fictionalised memoir. Publisher Penguin First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2019.
DJ and former athlete, Nemone Metaxas and deaf poet and educator Raymond Antrobus join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by Patrick Modiano, Jay Bernard and Dolly Alderton. Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton, Publisher: Penguin Surge by Jay Bernard Publisher: Chatto & Windus Honeymoon by Patrick Modiano Publisher: David R. Godine First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2019.
Authors Damian Le Bas and Amy Liptrot join Harriet Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by Jessie Greengrass, Kathleen Jamie and Dorthe Nors. ‘An Account of the Decline of the Great Auk, According to One Who Saw It’ by Jessie Greengrass. Publisher: John Murray ‘Sightlines’ by Kathleen Jamie. Publisher: Sort of Books ‘Mirror Shoulder Signal’ by Dorthe Nors. Publisher: Pushkin Press First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2019. Photo of Damian Le Bas by Charles Moriarty...
Comedian Stewart Lee and DJ and author Dave Haslam join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite reads by Steve Aylett, Olivia Laings and Chris Paling. Lint by Steve Aylett Publisher: Snowbooks The Lonely City by Olivia Laings Publisher: Picador Reading Allowed by Chris Paling Publisher: Constable First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2019 Photo by Steve Ullathorne
Author Lisa Jewell and economics commentator Aditya Chakrabortty join Harriett Gilbert to talk about their favourite books by Amit Chaudhuri, Liz Nugent and Rose Tremain. Afternoon Raag by Amit Chaudhuri Publisher: Oneworld Unravelling Oliver by Liz Nugent Publisher: Penguin Rosie: Scenes from a Vanished Life by Rose Tremain Publisher: Vintage First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2019. Photo credit: Andrew Whitton
Actor John Gordon Sinclair and West End star Kerry Ellis join Harriett Gilbert to choose their favourite books by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Sophie Kinsella and Cees Nooteboom. 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez Translator: Gregory Rabassa Publisher: Penguin I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella Publisher: Black Swan The Following Story by Cees Nooteboom Translator: Ina Rilke Publisher: Vintage First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2019.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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...
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.
