A Good Read

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A Good Read: Neil Oliver & Neil Forsyth

Neil Oliver & Neil Forsyth

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Books worth reading chosen by Neil Oliver and 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 BBC2'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

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