Books

In Chocolate Moon Mary Arrigan has left the world of shadows to deal with a problem that many families are having to face with increasing regularity – what to do when an elderly relative begins to develop Alzheimer's.

A high and long jumper, Fionnbar Callanan, won championships while studying law. When competing he started taking photographs. A Sporting Eye shows some great moments from Irish and international sporting events

Virginia Woolf's colourful yet tragic life is depicted and explained in this new intelligent biography.
By Curtis Sittenfeld

THE SING-SONG GIRLS OF SHANGHAI By Han Bangqing First translated by Eileen Chang Revised and edited by Eva Hung 554 pp. Columbia University Press €28.45

Maureen Dowd's new book Are Men Necessary? is causing chaos in post-feminist America. The woman with the red dress is not qualified to critique a topic as complex as the relations between the sexes, writes Kathryn Harrison

It is one of the best books of the year and Oisín McCann once more takes us on a mind-blowing journey through the unique landscape of his imagination

Sadhbh Trínseach kept detailed diaries of her involvement in the national movement, the Howth gun running and the Easter Rising. Prior to World War One, she studied art in Paris. Cesca's Diary is a beautiful account of this woman's words, sketches and paintings, says Sinéad McCoole

An account of the finding in Dublin of Caravaggio's 'The Taking Of Christ' , this pacey, well-written book reads better than a thriller, says Bruce Handy

Penguin and the Chinese connection and books on demand

Listening to live music performances is a habit long gone. Robert Philip's new book tells us what we are missing. By Charles Rosen