A Good Read
A Good Read
BBC Radio 4
Find reading inspiration with favourite books chosen by our guests.
Raymond Antrobus and Guy Gunaratne
Lively conversation around three book choices. Presenter Harriett Gilbert talks to two guests about books they love.Raymond Antrobus chooses Hunchback by Saou Ichikawa Guy Gunaratne chooses The Use of Photography by Annie Ernaux and Marc Marie Harriett Gilbert chooses The Mars Room by Rachel KushnerRaymond Antrobus is a poet whose memoir The Quiet Ear, which investigates the intersection of race and deafness, was published in 2025. His choice for the programme, Hunchback by Saou Ichikawa, is the startling story of a severely disabled woman who blogs pornography from her care home.Guy Gunaratne is a prizewinning novelist who has chosen Annie Ernaux and Marc Marie's work which explores sex, ill health and photography over the course of their relationship.Harriett nominates The Mars Room, a novel which looks at the lives, experiences and motivations of the inmates of an American women's prison.Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Sally Heaven Join us over on Instagram @agoodreadbbcPhoto credit: Marco Giugliarelli
Oct 19
27 min
Andrea Wulf and Selina Brown
Lively conversation around three book choices. Presenter Harriett Gilbert talks to two guests about books they loveEUPHORIA by Lily King HUNGER PAINS by Derek Owusu LOVED AND MISSED by Susie BoytSelina Brown has written three children's picture books. She is the founder and CEO of the Black British Book Festival. Her book recommendation is Hunger Pains by Derek Owusu - a novel that puts the growing trend of male obsession with appearance and fitness under the spotlight.Fellow guest Andrea Wulf is author of eight books, including the Founding Gardeners and The Invention of Nature. Her latest, The Traveller, is about the life of ethnographer George Forster, She chooses the novel chooses Euphoria by Lily King. It's based on the life of the life of the American explorer and anthropologist Margaret Mead.Loved and Missed by Susie Boyt is Harriett's choice - a poignant story about the fierce love of a grandmother who brings up her troubled daughter's child.Producer: Maggie Ayre, BBC Audio Bristol Join us over on Instagram @agoodreadbbcPhoto credit: Antonina Gern
Oct 12
27 min
Dr Vee Kativhu and Susie Riddell
Guests discuss books they love. This time: Loving and Giving by Molly Keane, chosen by podcaster and Archers actor Susie Riddell The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré, chosen by education activist Dr Vee Kativhu The Land in Winter by Andrew Miller, chosen by presenter Harriett GilbertProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Sarah Goodman Join us over on Instagram @agoodreadbbc
Aug 3
27 min
Lauren Child and David McAlmont
A sharing of book recommendations and lively discussion. Harriett Gilbert is joined by children's author Lauren Child and musician David McAlmont to talk about books they love by George Orwell, Elizabeth Strout and Alan Bennett. The books are: Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout, chosen by Lauren Child Burmese Days by George Orwell, chosen by David McAlmont Killing Time by Alan Bennett, chosen by Harriett GilbertProducer for BBC Audio Bristol: Sally Heaven Join us over on Instagram @agoodreadbbc
Jul 27
27 min
Cariad Lloyd and Geoff Dyer
Writer, actor and comedian Cariad Lloyd and writer Geoff Dyer join Harriett Gilbert for an enthusiastic and robust discussion about favourite books.The books are: The Transit of Venus by Shirley Hazzard, chosen by Geoff Dyer Question 7 by Richard Flanagan, chosen by Harriett Gilbert The Others by Sheena Kalayil, chosen by Cariad LloydProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Eliza Lomas Join us over on Instagram @agoodreadbbc
Jul 20
27 min
Joanne Harris and Islam Issa
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson, chosen by Joanne Harris Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy, chosen by Harriett Gilbert Akhenaten: Dweller in Truth by Naguib Mahfouz, chosen by Islam IssaJoin us over on Instagram @agoodreadbbcProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Sally Heaven
Jul 13
27 min
Daisy Dunn and Andrew Hunter Murray
The classicist and the author talk about books they love with presenter Harriett Gilbert. One of the books is eerily prescient about the state of the world today.The books are:Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, chosen by classicist Daisy Dunn Rogue Male by Geoffrey Household, chosen by podcaster and author Andrew Hunter Murray A Life's Music by Andreï Makine, translated by Geoffrey Strachan, chosen by presenter Harriett GilbertProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Beth O'Dea Join us over on instagram @agoodreadbbcPhoto credit: Timothy Foster
Jul 6
27 min
Philippa Perry and Stuart Maconie
A special episode of A Good Read, recorded live at the Hay Festival. The books are:London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe, chosen by psychotherapist and artist Philippa Perry All Quiet on the Orient Express by Magnus Mills, chosen by presenter and writer Stuart Maconie Luka and the Fire of Life by Salman Rushdie, chosen by presenter Harriett GilbertProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Maggie Ayre Join us over on Instagram @agoodreadbbcPhoto credit: Pal Hansen
Jun 29
27 min
Louise Welsh and Chris Brookmyre
Two Scottish crime writers choose books by: Iain Banks (Espedair Street) Muriel Spark (Memento Mori)And Harriett's choice is Summer by Edith WhartonProducer: Maggie Ayre BBC Audio BristolPhoto credit: Julie Broadfoot
Jun 22
27 min
Harriet Tyce and Matt Edmondson
The books are:Brighton Rock by Graham Greene, chosen by Harriet Tyce Agent Zigzag by Ben Macintyre, chosen by Matt Edmondson Cluny Brown by Margery Sharp, chosen by Harriett Gilbert Join us over on Instagram @agoodreadbbcProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Sally HeavenPhoto credit: Suki Dhanda
Jun 15
27 min
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