Better Read Than Dead

Better Read Than Dead Better Read Than Dead bookshop has been thriving in the heart of Newtown's King Street for over two decades.

Better Read Than Dead is a literary landmark that nourishes Newtown's intellectual dynamics with a specially curated collection of books, experienced booksellers and regular author and community events. Better Read Than Dead’s impressive contemporary space, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and sky-lit mezzanine level create an inviting respite from the busy street and we welcome browsers, advice-seeke

rs and anyone who values a good old-fashioned book chat. We pride ourselves on the quality and specialised knowledge of our booksellers. Our staff's collective decades of bookselling experience, diverse tastes and deep love of reading means that we are able to provide our customers with individualised service and a unique range of titles. Visit our specialty Better Read kids page here: https://www.facebook.com/betterreadkids

04/06/2026

To celebrate the Sydney Film Festival kicking off today, we thought we’d share the news by making our own mini movie. If you were amazed by the cinematography of this reel, just you wait to see what the real pros have made at this year’s film festival! Browse and book tickets for this year’s fantastic selection of screenings through the Sydney Film Festival’s website.

We’re very excited to be celebrating movies and storytelling and can’t wait to share what books we’d pair with our favourite festival films! Don’t forget, today is the last day to win a double pass to the Sydney Film Festival via our Instagram give-away. There’s still time to enter so check our pinned post on Instagram and comment on it to enter. Get watching!

We've just had a cheeky mid-week revamp of our new-release fiction table, inspired by best-selling author, Maggie O'Farr...
04/06/2026

We've just had a cheeky mid-week revamp of our new-release fiction table, inspired by best-selling author, Maggie O'Farrell's new book, 'Land'!

Now we are all feeling the cold weather a bit more, it's the perfect time to curl up with a book and luckily for you there are exceptionally fab new releases to keep you company. We're talking our book of the month, 'Medea Sang Me a Corrido', 'Cannon' winner of the Stella Prize, International Booker Prize winner 'Taiwan Travelogue' and much more!

We’re feeling the power of the Romantic today (that’s right Romantic with the capital R) because Katherine Johnson came ...
04/06/2026

We’re feeling the power of the Romantic today (that’s right Romantic with the capital R) because Katherine Johnson came into sign ‘Every Wild Soul’, the winning title the inaugural Australian Fiction Prize! Set out in Tasmania’s windy, wily and remote Maria Island, the story follows 18 year old Min’ journey through secrets, survival and the healing power of nature. ‘Every Wild Soul’ is a beautiful and gripping exploration of humanity's connection to the wild - and the hope that can be born from even the darkest of times. So come check out a signed copy in the store and get lost in the Romantic sublime of the Tasmanian wilderness. We’d recommend this title to everyone but if you loved ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’, ‘The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart’, ‘Prodigal Summer’ and ‘Wild Dark Shore’ you definitely need to add this to your TBR.

Better Read's new science fiction and fantasy book club will be holding their first meeting on the 6th of July, starting...
02/06/2026

Better Read's new science fiction and fantasy book club will be holding their first meeting on the 6th of July, starting at 6:30pm. The first book up for a discussion is 'Daughter of Crows', by Mark Lawrence! Copies are available in-store so come and collect one before Bookwyrms kicks off. Please register to attend via our events website.

Ruby has procured a mythical new release recommendation for you today. For all things fantastical you need to check out ...
02/06/2026

Ruby has procured a mythical new release recommendation for you today. For all things fantastical you need to check out this sweeping new historical fantasy novel from Sunday Times bestselling author Katherine Arden, 'The Unicorn Hunters'.

The novel follows an orphaned duchess who must journey into a world of myth and there discover a power that may be her salvation, or her demise, in this enchanting new novel.

Spotted in Ruby's staff stack is another one of Arden's bestselling works 'The Bear and The Nightingale'! Come check out Ruby's staff stack and Arden's new work in-store.

We were so happy that biologist and award-winning author, Danielle Clode, came in to visit and sign her new book, 'The E...
01/06/2026

We were so happy that biologist and award-winning author, Danielle Clode, came in to visit and sign her new book, 'The Enigmatic Echidna'. This book follows the little echidna on its eclectic path through Australian landscape.

Clode's scientific background and respect for her subject shine through, resulting in a book rich with intriguing facts and delightfully poetic turns of phrase. The structure follows a broadly chronological path through evolutionary biology and natural history, with forays into geography, ecology, conservation and other areas of research. Clode explores the integral role various First Nations peoples played in building knowledge about monotremes – the rare egg-laying mammals – noting how local expertise was historically overlooked in favour of overseas scientists publishing theories based on analyses of decaying specimens. She acknowledges that much remains unknown about these amazing creatures, fostering a sense of wonder. Clode leaves the reader with a sense of anticipation for future discoveries and the knowledge that the rehabilitation of injured echidnas offers scope for research, although it can be difficult to delineate the difference between behaviour in captivity and behaviour in the wild, not to mention that echidnas are great escape artists, thanks to their strength, speed and intelligence.

You already know what it is ... This year's winner of the , 'Taiwan Travelogue' by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ, translated by Lin Ki...
01/06/2026

You already know what it is ... This year's winner of the , 'Taiwan Travelogue' by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ, translated by Lin King is back in stock! Pick up a copy in-store or online 🤤 🇹🇼 -zǐ

Last night Camille Booker was in conversation with Lauren Keegan to celebrate the release of her new novel, ‘ Code Name ...
01/06/2026

Last night Camille Booker was in conversation with Lauren Keegan to celebrate the release of her new novel, ‘ Code Name Funnel Web’. Set in Australia during World War II, ‘Code Name Funnel Web’, is a atmospheric page-turner! Thanks to those who came along to celebrate the release and to Camille and Lauren for a great conversation on myths, survival and the complexities of womanhood. Come check out ‘Code Name Funnel Web’ in-store or online!

We are excited to announce that our June Book of the Month is ‘Medea Sang Me a Corrido’ by Dahlia de la Cerda, translate...
30/05/2026

We are excited to announce that our June Book of the Month is ‘Medea Sang Me a Corrido’ by Dahlia de la Cerda, translated by Julia Sanches and Heather Cleary.⁠
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A punk revival of Medea as a Mexican anti-angel of birth and death, this is a fierce, gothic, and biting novel about survival, violence and fate in a femicidal world. This is one for readers who like their mythology reimagined with teeth and who want something that is impossible to put down.⁠
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Last night was a magical evening of celebrating books with the launch of ‘The Bookshop of Buried Pasts’ by Sarah Clutton...
30/05/2026

Last night was a magical evening of celebrating books with the launch of ‘The Bookshop of Buried Pasts’ by Sarah Clutton, bestselling author of ‘The Remarkable Truths’. Sarah was in conversation with Emma Babbington and the two had a fantastic discussion on secrets, humour, love and mystery.

‘The Bookshop of Buried Pasts’ is an exhilarating tale of an abandoned boy and the woman who refused to forget him, all woven through the walls of an enchanting bookshop.

After the event we wrapped up a great launch with some yummy wine and nibbles and a book signing session with Sarah and Emma!

Address

265 King Street
Newtown, NSW
2042

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 7pm
Tuesday 10am - 7pm
Wednesday 10am - 7pm
Thursday 10am - 7pm
Friday 10am - 7pm
Saturday 9:30am - 8pm
Sunday 10am - 7pm

Telephone

+61295578700

Website

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