A Good Read

Chris Tarrant and Mike Gayle

A Good Read

Show Notes

OPEN by Andre Agassi SONIC YOUTH SLEPT ON MY FLOOR by Dave Haslam THE SECRET HOURS by Mick Herron Television and radio broadcaster Chris Tarrant nominates the autobiography of tennis legend Andre Agassi, and novelist Mike Gayle has gone for Dave Haslam’s memoir of his time spent DJing at Manchester’s famous Hacienda. Harriett is hoping the two of them will enjoy an espionage novel by Slow Horses author Mick Herron. Producer for BBC Audio Bristol: Sally Heaven Join the conversation on Instagram: agoodreadbbc

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Oct 19, 2026

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 Kushner Raymond 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 @agoodreadbbc Photo credit: Marco Giugliarelli

Oct 12, 2026

Lively conversation around three book choices. Presenter Harriett Gilbert talks to two guests about books they love EUPHORIA by Lily King HUNGER PAINS by Derek Owusu LOVED AND MISSED by Susie Boyt Selina 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 @agoodreadbbc Photo credit: Antonina Gern

Aug 3, 2026

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

Jul 27, 2026

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

Jul 20, 2026

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

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