Neil Oliver & Neil Forsyth
Books worth reading chosen by TV historian Neil Oliver and TV writer Neil Forsyth
Two Scottish Neils choose the books they love. Neil Oliver the TV archeologist from Coast, A History of Scotland & Rise of the Clans chooses a nature book The Glorious Life of the Oak by John Lewis-Stempel. As the title suggests, it's a loving tribute to the tree that is inextricably bound up with the history of the British isles. Neil Oliver says he likes to read nature writing these days as a way to escape the uncertainty and unrest of the world.
Neil Forsyth wrote Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ2's recent comedy drama Guilt as well as Bob Servant and Eric, Ernie & Me. His choice of book is Stuart A Life Backwards by Alexander Masters, the biography of a homeless drug addict from Cambridge. It's a book that stays with you, he says, and it's written with unflinching honesty.
Harriett chooses Indemnity Only, a female PI led crime fiction story set in Chicago. Its author Sara Paretsky has been described as the Raymond Chandler of the female private eye novel.
Have you read any of them? Let us know what you think of the books on instagram @agoodreadbbc
THE GLORIOUS LIFE OF THE OAK by JOHN LEWIS STEMPEL
STUART A LIFE BACKWARDS by ALEXANDER MASTERS
INDEMNITY ONLY by SARA PARETSKY
Producer: Maggie Ayre
Last on
More episodes
Broadcasts
- Tue 3 Mar 2020 16:30Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
- Fri 6 Mar 2020 23:00Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
Opening Lines
Books
Celebrating reading and the 100 novels that have shaped our world.