BBC Radio 4

A Good Read

Arts EN ↓ 390 episodes

Find reading inspiration with favourite books chosen by our guests.

Author

BBC Radio 4

Category

Arts

Podcast website

www.bbc.co.uk

Latest episode

Jul 6, 2026

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Episodes

Sindhu Vee and Phil Wang 30.10.2018

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.

Liz Carr and Kate Williams 23.10.2018

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: Portobell...

Ben Miller and Danny Wallace 16.10.2018

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...

Grace Dent and Sian Harries 09.10.2018

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.

Nikesh Shukla and Leone Ross 02.10.2018

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.

Anne-Marie Duff and Louise O'Neill 24.07.2018

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.

Samira Ahmed and Elis James 17.07.2018

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...

Isy Suttie and Lolly Adefope 10.07.2018

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.

Loyd Grossman and Skin 03.07.2018

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 broadcas...

Juno Dawson and Pandora Sykes 26.06.2018

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.

Tony Parsons and Olly Mann 19.06.2018

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.

Adam Kay and Farrah Jarral 12.06.2018

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.

Robert Webb and Hugo Rifkind 05.06.2018

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.

Phill Jupitus and Robin Ince 27.03.2018

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.

Bernardine Evaristo and Jolyon Rubinstein 20.03.2018

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.

Kit de Waal and Nina Stibbe 13.03.2018

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.

Joanna Trollope and Sabrina Mahfouz 06.03.2018

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 Abac...

Professor Mark Miodownik and Diana Henry 27.02.2018

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...

Sathnam Sanghera and Hadley Freeman 20.02.2018

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 Februar...

Steph McGovern and Jayde Adams 13.02.2018

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.

Ruby Tandoh and Jake Yapp 06.02.2018

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...

Stephen Fry and Alan Davies 30.01.2018

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.

Nish Kumar and Katy Brand 28.11.2017

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.

Alexei Sayle and Meg Rosoff 21.11.2017

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 201...

Jon McGregor and Cathy Rentzenbrink 14.11.2017

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.

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