Presented by Rick O'Shea with contributions from the nation's book clubs, expect authors and recommendations.

Jon McGregor - 'Lean Fall Stand'

When it comes to setting yourself a challenge in writing the question of how to write about the vast, white and relatively featureless landscape of Antarctica in an appealing way is one which you would be forgiven for not engaging with. Not so Jon McGregor, whose new novel Lean Fall Stand is one of the most intensely humane, heartbreaking and beautiful books you will read this year. And as if Antarctica didn't pose enough of a challenge, he went and tackled aphasia too.

Breda Brown - Northern Noir

Book lover and presenter of the 'Inside Books' podcast, Breda Brown investigates the significant growth in 'Northern Noir’ i.e. northern crime writing over the past few years. It has grown in tandem with a wider upsurge in Irish crime fiction, but these stories have their own particular accent, location and shadow of a darker past.

Book Club: Catriona Ward 'The Last House on Needless Street'

Catriona Ward's The Last House on Needless Street comes highly recommended. Before its publication in March, Stephen King tweeted "haven't read anything this exciting since Gone Girl". Now there’s a quote for the cover. High praise, but nothing compared to being quizzed by the ‘Reading Between the Wines Book Club’ from Newcastle, Co Wicklow.

(Credit Robert Hollingworth)