A Good Read

BBC Radio 4

4.3 (358)
Books
Updated Bimonthly

Find reading inspiration with favourite books chosen by our guests.

Apr 1

Patrick Grant and Mary-Ann Ochota

This time the community clothing entrepreneur and host of The Great British Sewing Bee Patrick Grant chooses his favourite book along with fellow guest anthropologist and broadcaster Mary-Ann Ochota. The books are: Parsnips Buttered by Joe Lycett The Flow by Amy Jane Beer Heatwave by Penelope Lively Produced in Bristol by Maggie Ayre

28 min
Mar 23

Maryam Moshiri and Doug Naylor

Newsreader Maryam Moshiri and Red Dwarf creator Doug Naylor discuss their chosen books, including Bridget Jones's Diary, with Harriett Gilbert. Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding, chosen by Maryam Moshiri Why You Should Read Children's Books, Even Though You Are So Old and Wise by Katherine Rundell, chosen by Doug Naylor Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson, chosen by Harriett Gilbert Join us over on Instagram @agoodreadbbc Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Sally Heaven

28 min
Mar 16

Victoria Pile and Julian Baggini

THE LIVES AND LOVES OF A SHE DEVIL by Fay Weldon, chosen by Victoria Pile THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA by Ernest Hemingway, chosen by Julian Baggini CLEAR by Carys Davies, chosen by Harriett Gilbert Comedy writer and director Victoria Pile joins philosopher and author Julian Baggini to talk about their favourite books with Harriett Gilbert. On the menu is a feminist revenge novel that is as dark as it is funny, a classic Hemingway novella that casts us out to sea, and an evocative short story set on a remote island off Scotland. Join the conversation on Instagram: agoodreadbbc Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Becky Ripley

28 min
Mar 9

Lolita Chakrabarti and Dr Guy Leschziner

This week's books are: How to Measure a Cow by Margaret Forster (chosen by Lolita Chakrabarti) The House of God by Samuel Shem (chosen by Guy Leschziner) A Very Easy Death by Simone de Beauvoir (chosen by Harriett Gilbert) The producer is Eliza Lomas for BBC Audio Bristol Join us over on Instagram @agoodreadbbc

28 min
Mar 2

Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Jung Chang

The children's author Frank Cottrell-Boyce and the author of Wild Swans and Big Sister Little Sister Red Sister Jung Chang choose their good reads. Where Should We Run To by Alan Garner chosen by Frank Cottrell-Boyce Death of A Naturalist by Seamus Heaney chosen by Harriett Gilbert Hans Christian Andersen's Fairytales chosen by Jung Chang Produced in Bristol by Maggie Ayre

28 min
Feb 23

Martin Edwards and Tom Shakespeare

This week's books are: Five Little Pigs by Agatha Christie, chosen by crime writer Martin Edwards At Swim-Two-Birds by Flann O'Brien, chosen by sociologist, bioethicist and comedian Tom Shakespeare Thursday Night Widows by Claudia Pineiro, chosen by Harriett Gilbert Join us over on Instagram @agoodreadbbc Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Sally Heaven Photo credit: Belinda Mason

28 min
Feb 17

Maria Balshaw and Léa Ypi

This week's books are: Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler chosen by Maria Balshaw. The Overcoat by Nikolai Gogol (translated by Isabel Hapgood) chosen by Léa Ypi. Small Bomb at Dimperley by Lissa Evans chosen by Harriett Gilbert. The producer is Eliza Lomas for BBC Audio Bristol. Join us over on Instagram @agoodreadbbc Photo credit: Erdem Moralioglu

28 min
Feb 9

Robin Ince and Philip Hensher

This week's books are: Water Shall Refuse Them by Lucie McKnight Hardy, chosen by comedian Robin Ince Pnin by Vladimir Nabokov, chosen by Harriett Gilbert Esther Waters by George Moore, chosen by writer Philip Hensher Producer Sally Heaven, BBC Audio Bristol

28 min

See All (26)

Mariella Frostrup

Host

4.3

out of 5

358 Ratings

Love this program!

10/20/2024

JG TY

Thanks for your consistently fascinating broadcasting. The recent panel episode with Naomi Alderman about the future was especially great. Keep up the great work.
Feeds my Addiction

11/18/2023

Gingiaa

I enjoy the wide range of books discovered through these discussions. The guests vary so widely in how they interpret what is a a Good Read that I learn of books I’d never hear of elsewhere. The host is an absolute twin to my own book tastes so I know there will always be at least one book I’ve read or need to read or better still, need to reread.
Mariella Frostrup the best

09/28/2022

sextus Pompeius

Mariella Frostrup is by far the best of the hosts. Always measured, informed and a pleasure to listen to.
Often shallow

10/11/2023

Beatnik Strategy

A great concept but often the shallowness of the guests is such that they could be talking about television. In fact they are usually TV presenters of some kind.