A Good Read

Harriett Gilbert and her guests - journalist, Kevin Maguire and columnist, Lucy Mangan - discuss their favourite books by Florence King, Peter Ackroyd and Simon Gray..Lucy Mangan's choice: 'Confessions of a Failed Southern Lady' by Florence King Publisher: ViragoKevin Maguire's choice: 'The Clerkenwell Tales' by Peter Ackroyd Publisher: Random HouseHarriett Gilbert's choice: 'The Smoking Diaries' by Simon Gray Publisher: GrantaFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 Extra in July 2012.

Harriet Gilbert and her guests - comedy producer, Jon Plowman and publisher, Tim Coates - discuss favourite books by James Christie, Tobias Wolff and Patrick deWitt. Tim Coates' choice: 'Dear Miss Landau' by James ChristieJon Plowman's choice: 'Old School' by Tobias WolffHarriett Gilbert's choice: 'The Sisters Brothers' by Patrick deWittFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2012.

Fairtrade entrepreneur Sophi Tranchell, Radio Times television critic Alison Graham, and presenter Harriett Gilbert discuss their favourite reads. BOOKS FEATURED IN THE PROGRAMME Sophi Tranchell's choice: 'The Man from Beijing' by Henning MankellAlison Graham's choice: 'The Rain Before it Falls' by Jonathan CoeHarriett Gilbert's choice: 'Our Man in Havana' by Graham GreeneProducer: John ByrneFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2012.

Harriet Gilbert and her guests - historian, Helen Castor and sustainability activist, Rob Hopkins, - discuss their favourite books by John Stewart Collis, William Golding and Marcelo Figeras.Rob Hopkins' choice: 'The Worm Forgives the Plough' by John Stewart Collis Publisher: Random HouseHelen Castor's choice: 'The Spire' by William Golding Publisher: Faber and FaberHarriett Gilbert's choice: Kamchatka by Marcelo Figeras Publisher: Atlantic BooksProducer Christine HallFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2012.

Harriett Gilbert and her guests - former barrister, Constance Briscoe and science journalist, Angela Saini - discuss favourite books by Jill Paton Walsh, Isaac Asimov and Muriel Spark.Constance's choice: 'Knowledge Of Angels' by Jill Paton Walsh Publisher: Black SwanAngela's choice: 'Foundation' by Isaac Asimov Publisher: Harper CollinsHarriett's choice: 'Curriculum Vitae' by Muriel Spark Publisher: CarcanetFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2012.

Harriett Gilbert' and her guests - actor, Larry Lamb (Gavin & Stacey) and writer, Ian Marchant.- discuss favourite books by Tim Winton, Alain Mabanckou and JL Carr. Larry Lamb's choice: ‘Dirt Music’ by Tim WintonIan Marchant's choice: ‘How Steeple Sinderby Wanderers Won the FA Cup’ by JL CarrHarriett Gilbert's choice: ‘African Psycho’ by Alain Mabanckou.First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2012.

Harriett Gilbert and her guests - columnist and author, Michele Hanson and Director of External Affairs at the Science Museum Group, Roger Highfield - discuss their favourite books by Tobias Smollett, Siddhartha Mukherjee and John Le Carre. Michele Hanson's choice: 'Humphry Clinker' by Tobias SmollettRoger Highfield's choice: 'The Emperor of All Maladies' by Siddhartha MukherjeeHarriett Gilbert's choice: 'A Murder of Quality' by John le CarréFirst broadcast on Radio 4 in June 2012.

Harriett Gilbert and her guests - space scientist, Maggie Aderin-Pocock and music producer, William Orbit - discuss favourite books by John Wyndham, Janice Galloway and Tom Stoppard. 'Chocky' by John Wyndham Publisher: Penguin'Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead' by Tom Stoppard Publisher: Faber and Faber'Trick Is To Keep Breathing' by Janice Galloway Publisher: VintageFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2012.

Deadly 60 presenter Steve Backshall and Editor of Gransnet Geraldine Bedell discuss their favourite books with Harriett Gilbert.Geraldine picks 'The Idea of Perfection' by Kate Grenville, a touching romance between two people in the eccentric little backwater of Karakarook, Australia.Steve opts for a chilling ghost-story set around a scientific expedition to the Arctic Circle in 1937 - 'Dark Matter' by Michelle Paver.Harriett's choice is 'In the Country of Men' by Hisham Matar, a tender coming-of-age story about nine-year-old Suleiman who becomes the man of the house when his father goes away on business.Producer: Toby FieldFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2012.

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.