The Imaginary Girlfriend, by John Irving (Black Swan, £6.99 in UK)

Most memoirs are mindnumbingly long this one is tantalisingly short

Most memoirs are mindnumbingly long this one is tantalisingly short. Odd, really, since as a novelist John Irving is not noted for his brevity - but in writing about his life he writes only about what truly interests him, which is writing and wrestling. (Yes, wrestling, that sport where men roll around on mats with their arms locked around each other's necks though, if you must know, you re not supposed to lock your arm around your opponent's neck unless you've got his upper arm in your grip also). It's amusing and occasionally outrageous it also, if you're interested, contains photographs which show you what the real John Irving looks like, as opposed to the outrageously handsome 55 year old who pouts moodily out of the covers of his novels.

Arminta Wallace

Arminta Wallace

Arminta Wallace is a former Irish Times journalist