A Good Read

By BBC Radio 4

Find reading inspiration with favourite books chosen by our guests.

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4.8

3030 ratings

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FAQs about A Good Read:

How many episodes does A Good Read have?

The podcast currently has 393 episodes available.

A Good Read episodes:

August 03, 2026 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 Gilbert
Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Sarah Goodman
Join us over on Instagram @agoodreadbbc
...more
28min
July 27, 2026 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 Gilbert
Producer for BBC Audio Bristol: Sally Heaven
Join us over on Instagram @agoodreadbbc
...more
28min
July 20, 2026 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 Lloyd
Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Eliza Lomas
Join us over on Instagram @agoodreadbbc
...more
28min
July 13, 2026 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 Issa
Join us over on Instagram @agoodreadbbc
Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Sally Heaven
...more
28min
July 06, 2026 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 Gilbert
Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Beth O'Dea
Join us over on instagram @agoodreadbbc
Photo credit: Timothy Foster
...more
28min
June 29, 2026 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 Gilbert
Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Maggie Ayre
Join us over on Instagram @agoodreadbbc
Photo credit: Pal Hansen
...more
28min
June 22, 2026 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 Wharton
Producer: Maggie Ayre BBC Audio Bristol
Photo credit: Julie Broadfoot
...more
28min
June 15, 2026 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 @agoodreadbbc
Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Sally Heaven
Photo credit: Suki Dhanda
...more
28min
April 01, 2026 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
...more
28min
March 23, 2026 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
...more
28min

FAQs about A Good Read:

How many episodes does A Good Read have?

The podcast currently has 393 episodes available.

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