A Good Read Folgen

Vanessa Redgrave is 'in love with' Rachel Holmes' biography of Sylvia Pankhurst, Eileen Atkins has chosen a very different biography, Oliver Soden's imagining of the life of Jeoffrey, the cat who lived with the poet Christopher Smart 250 years ago. Harriett goes even further back in time with her selection, The Testament of Mary by Colm Tóibín.Tell us what you think of these books on Instagram: agoodreadbbcProduced by Sally Heaven for BBC Audio in Bristol

Lloyd Cole is a singer/songwriter whose hits with his band The Commotions include Perfect Skin. His choice of A Good Read is The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler. For him it's all about the smart dialogue and lavish use of similes. Francis Macdonald's pick is the autobiography of the Scottish comedian Limmy: Surprisingly Down to Earth and Very Funny. While he admits Limmy's work and persona is 'marmite' to people - they either love him or hate him - he says the book covers a lot of important topics that young men don't often discuss - mental health being the main one. Harriett recommends a noir novel in the same vein as Chandler - The Expendable Man by Dorothy B Hughes who did not receive the same acclaim even though she was writing at the same time and also had books optioned and made into Hollywood movies.Producer for BBC Audio in Bristol: Maggie Ayre

Greek politician Yanis Varoufakis and novelist Patrick McGrath join Harriett Gilbert to discuss books by Margaret Atwood, Nigel Balchin and Kiley Reid.Payback: Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth by Margaret Atwood Publisher: BloomsburySuch a Fun Age by Kiley Reid Publisher: BloomsburyDarkness Falls From The Sky by Nigel Balchin Publisher: W&NProducer: Maggie AyreFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2021.