Book Club is back for a new series, with a new title, new time slot and 3 brand new clubs.
Previously titled Page Turners, RTÉ One's popular book review series dips into the conversations of eleven book clubs from across the country as they discuss literary classics, the latest releases and some old book club favourites.
Like all good book club get-togethers, their meetings go beyond just reviews - expect lots of laughter, disagreements and even some tears as we're invited into homes, cafes, bookshops and pubs across the country to get an intimate glimpse into life in Ireland today.
The four-part series kicks off on Wednesday 14th February at 10.35 pm on RTÉ One, where our groups discuss the first five books in the series: Sarah Breen and Emer Mclysaght's Aisling Ever After, Claire Keegan’s So Late In The Day, Elaine Feeney’s How to Build a Boat, Mark O’Connell’s A Thread of Violence and book club classic (and global phenomenon) Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.
Links to local libraries across the country will be available via the show's webpage, enabling viewers to access the books featured in the series for free. Local book stores across the country will have details of which books will be appearing each week, so bibliophiles at home can join in with the reading.
Mixing fiction and non-fiction, the eclectic list of titles featured includes Poor by Katriona O’Sullivan, Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus, Did Ye Hear Mammy Died? By Séamas O’Reilly, the Booker Prize-winning Prophet Song by Paul Lynch, Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk, Youth by Kevin Curran, The Grass Ceiling by Eimear Ryan, Portrait of The Piss Artist As A Young Man by Tadhg Hickey, Horses of God by Mahi Binebine, The Bee Sting by Paul Murray, The Fell by Sarah Moss, Soldier Sailor by Claire Kilroy, The Country Girls by Edna O’Brien, The Fraud by Zadie Smith and the immortal 1984 by George Orwell.
Meet the Book Clubs
The eleven book clubs featured across the series include the eight book clubs from the first series, joined by three new clubs.
The LCB Book Club from Kimmage in Dublin is made up of Podge, Martin and Jack, twenty-something lads about town who consider themselves to be ‘modern men’.
The Floating Baes book club in Limerick is made up of three DJ friends; Mona-Lxsa, Cici and Snow met through Limericks music scene and have been firm friends since. Mona and Snow introduce us to their African heritage within their reviews, while CiCi shares what it's like juggling music and being a single mum.
Mannan Castle Golf Book Club in Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan is made up of four friends from the golf club (Anthony, Brendan, Orla and Sheila) and Sheila’s teacher pal Orla D.
These new clubs are joined by original Page Turner favourites:
Camán Club in North County Cork. Six ladies from north Cork who are not afraid to give their honest opinions - Máire, Phil, Colette, Kathleen, Pauline and Mai.
The Paper Hacks, Harolds Cross, Dublin. Our resident queer book club, Phil, Brandon, Jack and Kenneth, met through mutual friends at the Dublin Gay Men's Chorus.
Fiction & Coffee, Dublin City Centre. Formed on-line over lockdown the four members of the Fiction & Coffee book club represent a wider group made up of 30-plus members whose aim is to get together socially without the need for alcohol. On-screen we meet Ailish, Rachel, Anna and Brazilian born Nathalia.
The Forge Book Club, Donegal. Nestled in a cosy pub in Donegal Town, the eleven members of its resident bookclub are made up of old school friends and newbies to the area, they rotate throughout each episode based on the book that’s reviewed.
Iron John, West Dublin. Clondalkin’s men-only book club is made up of Gerry and his two sons Rory and Matthew, brother-in-law Paddy and two friends, Brendan and George.
The Malahide Book Club, Co. Dublin. Six women who all grew up in the former USSR, they now call the North Co. Dublin suburb their home.
Castle Grove Bookclub in Mallow is made up of four friends from the suburban Mallow estate that shares the club's name.
Tertulia Book Club, Westport, Co. Mayo. Nestled in the picturesque Westport Harbour, the Tertulia bookstore’s club is made up of an American, two Dubs and an English woman who are all self-confessed blow-ins to the west of Ireland, and now wouldn’t call anywhere else home.
Book Club, Wednesdays from 14th February at 10.35pm on RTÉ One - catch up with the first series now via RTÉ Player.
