A Good Read
Few traditional radio programmes better illustrate the triumph of diversity in BBC programming than A Good Read on Radio 4.
The title and the introduction by well-read presenter Harriet Gilbert would surely indicate that the purpose of the programme is recommendation.
Yesterday a palliative doctor Rachel Clarke recommended The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Domiquqe Bauby.
I read this just over 20 years ago when a good friend of mine had a crippling stroke aged 41; Bauby had an even worse one as his intact mind was effectively incarcerated inside a closed down body.
He communicated by eyelid movement and wrote a fine account of the effect of the stroke.
No problem here then although I did not care for Dr Clarke’s somewhat bossy and assertive manner.
However the second guest, a gay Muslim ex-barrister and management consultant was clearly far more interested in talking about himself. His recommendation was a collection and poets of essays Aware Your Silence Will Not Protect You by the 80s black feminist Audre Lorde.
I imagine many, like me, would not be reaching for their Kindles to download this one.
Harriet Gilbert finished with Henning Mankell’s Faceless Killers which was not universally liked .
Were I ever invited on the programme I would recommend what I consider to be a good read – possibly any novel by Anthony Quinn – and criticise any of those books recommended if they do not meet that criteria.
As you can imagine, there was not even any discussion on readability.
To hold the reader engaged is that great gift of telling the story.
Yet biographies can be far too long to reflect the assiduous research of the writer and many writers cannot simply tell a story, which is why I like Daphne du Maurier because she can.
