A Good Read

Mariella Frostrup talks to awarding winning poet and novelist Jackie Kay about her new collection of short stories Reality, Reality. Crime writer Laura Wilson joins writer and broadcaster James Runcie Coronation to discuss why the 50s is the literary decade of the moment. And Tim Coates talks about his new website bilbary.com which aims to increase the capacity of libraries to provide e-books for their customers.

Ross Raisin discusses his debut novel God's Own Country with James Naughtie.

Mariella Frostrup talks to comedian Russell Kane who looks at the nature of humour in his first novel The Humorist. Senior curator Jamie Andrews talks about the British Library's new exhibition Writing Britain - Wastelands to Wonderlands. And Mariella discusses updating the classics with debut novelist Francesca Segal and Professor of Literature at York University John Bowen.

Mariella talks to award-winning writer Timothy Mo about his new book Pure.

Mariella talks to novelist Elif Shafak about her latest book highlighting the issue of honour killings in the Kurdish Turkish community across two continents. The programme also looks at novels for children of eight to twelve years. Plus more of the funny things people say in bookshops. This time round, book buyers get their revenge.

Mariella Frostrup meets Ronald Harwood to talk about his five of the best books, while Janice Galloway and Jenny Colgan cater for those with a literary sweet tooth. Plus Michael Carlson on the enduring appeal of the baseball novel.

Harriett Gilbert and her guests – comedian Isy Suttie and opera singer and broadcaster Beverley Humphreys - discuss favourite books by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, Ian McEwan and Daniel Keyes.

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, which Beverly describes as a "love letter to literature."

Isy picks The Comfort of Strangers by Ian McEwan, a sinister tale of two couples in an unnamed European town, which she admits does not have a particularly happy ending.

Harriett chooses the story of a young man with learning difficulties whose intelligence is enhanced by a scientific procedure - Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2012.

Mariella Frostrup talks to Marilynne Robinson about her new collection of essays, "When I Was A Child I Read Books", about faith, fiction and what it means to be a human being. Mature novelists Charlotte Rogan and Paul Torday discuss the pros and cons of debuting a first novel later in life. Writer and bookseller Jen Campbell shares her humorous collection of customers' extraordinary requests - a unique and affectionate insight into the world of bookselling and bookshops.

Harriett Gilbert and her guests – writer, Grace Dent and actress, Frances Barber - discuss favourite books by Nancy Mitford, Khaled Hosseini and Margaret Atwood.

From Bristol at BBC Radio 4's More Than Words Listening Festival.

Grace Dent chooses: Love in a Cold Climate by Nancy Mitford.

Frances Barber chooses A Thousand Splendid Suns by Aghan-born novelist Khaled Hosseini.

And Harriett Gilbert chooses: Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2012.

Mariella Frostrup looks at the career and life of Dodie Smith, the author best known for her hugely popular children's story, The 101 Dalmatians, and I Capture the Castle. Sofka Zinovieff talks about her latest novel, The House on Paradise Street and Sam Mills and Rodge Glass discuss basing books around real living people.