BBC Radio 4 A Good Read

I got to go on A Good Read to wax lyrical about literature. I got terribly excited with my choice and very confused by the other’s idea of good books.

You can listen to A Good Read on Monday 17th Februrary on BBC Radio 4.

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind, translated by John E. Woods, chosen by Iszi Lawrence

Two Serious Ladies by Jane Bowles, chosen by Joe Dunthorne

Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout, chosen by presenter Harriett Gilbert

I picked Perfume The Story Of A Murder, a book I loved since I was a teenager.

The poet and delicatessen owner, novelist, author of Submarine, Joe Dunthorne chose the forgotten cult classic Two Serious Ladies. It makes him happy because every sentence is a surprise, and that makes him want to write. But he admits that it's not for everyone.

And Harriett's choice is Oh William! by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author Elizabeth Strout. Which prompts the discussion, can you love a book if you loathe the central character?

Produced by Beth O'Dea for BBC Audio Bristol