A Good Read

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 Oc...

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...

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:...

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...

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 Othe...

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 broad...

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...

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.

Lord Victor Adebowale and musician Rachel Unthank join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by David Almond, Robert Seehaler and John Higgs. Half a Creature from the Sea by David Almond Publisher: Walker Books Stranger Than We Can Imagine by John Higgs Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson A Whole Life by Robert Seehaler Publisher: Picador First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 201...

Comedian Alan Carr and presenter Melanie Sykes join Harriett Gilbert to talk about books they love by John Fowles, Andrea Ashworth and Malcolm Bradbury. The French Lieutenant's Woman by John Fowles, Publisher: Vintage Once in a House on Fire by Andrea Ashworth Publisher: Picador The History Man by Malcolm Bradbury Publisher: Picador First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2017.

Businessman John Timpson and Big Issue founder John Bird join Harriett Gilbert to discuss favourite their books by Thomas Hardy, Elif Batuman and Graham Greene. The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy Publisher: Wordsworth Classics The Possessed: Adventures with Russian Books and the People Who Read Them by Elif Batuman Publisher: Granta The Confidential Agent by Graham Greene Publisher: Vintage...

Journalist and Margaret Thatcher's biographer Charles Moore, and writer Nadifa Mohamed, join Harriett Gilbert to discuss favourite books by Jane Austen, Kester Aspden and Patrick de Witt. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen Publisher: Wordsworth Classics Undermajordomo Minor by Patrick de Witt Publisher: Granta The Hounding of David Oluwale by Kester Aspden Publisher: Vintage First broadcast on BBC Ra...

TV executive Michael Grade and science presenter Gia Milinovich join Harriett Gilbert to discuss beloved books by Peter Oborne, Richard Feynman and Shirley Jackson. Basil D'Oliveira by Peter Oborne Pubisher: Sphere Surely You're Joking Mr Feynman by Richard Feynman Publisher: Vintage We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson Publisher: Penguin First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November...