Welcome to BRTD bookstore!
From the moment Better Read Than Dead opened in 1996, it has been the quality and specialised knowledge of our booksellers that has set our store apart from its rivals.
This, together with a collective passion for books and reading, provides the ideal environment for us to excel at providing you with the best in reading.
At BRTD, we are proud to be recognised for our efforts in providing the book buying public with our special brand of service and range of titles.
We invite you to drop into our store in Newtown, or check out this month's featured titles online.
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BRTD Book of the Month
Destination Saigon
Walter Mason
PB $ 24.99
Destination Saigon is simply one of the most charming travel books I've read.
Walter Mason is a Sydney-sider who fell in love with Thang, a Vietnamese- Australian. In 1994 Thang took Walter to Vietnam and he spent his "first three days there locked in a room crying, the place terrified me so much." Then something clicked and Walter became obsessed with Vietnam and the Vietnamese.
We're loving...
Wake
Robert J Saywer
Caitlin Decter is young, pretty, feisty, a mathematics genius-and blind. Still, she can surf the net with the best of them, following its complex paths clearly in her mind.But Caitlin's brain long ago co-opted her primary visual cortex to help her navigate online. So when she receives an implant to restore her sight, instead of seeing reality, the landscape of the World Wide Web explodes into her consciousness, spreading out all around her in a riot of colors and shapes.
The Postmistress
Sarah Blake
This novel weaves the stories of three American women during the beginning of America's involvement in WW2.
Karen says, "I found it to be perfectly pitched, with wonderful characters and a completely absorbing plot. It was just charming without being mushy".
Gravel
Peter Goldsworthy
Goldsworthy's latest book is a must-read for any fan of contemporary Australian fiction, and/or the short story form. Each story presents an array of human emotion; each is touching and thought-provoking in one way or another. From the very first page I'm sure you'll want to savour every word of this brilliant collection of stories.
Wolf Hall
by Hilary Mantel
This brilliant book is a fictionalised portrait of Thomas Cromwell. It charts his life from his humble beginnings as the son of a brutal blacksmith to Henry VIII's chief advisor. He played a major role in securing Henry's divorce from Katherine of Aragon and of course was instrumental in the Reformation. It was the most popular bet for the Man Booker prize this year and it almost broke the bookies when it won! Read More...
The BRTD Cambodian Building Project
Our charity programme for 2009 is to support the Tabitha Foundation and their work among the poor and dispossed of Cambodia. Head BRTD bookseller Derek Dryden recently joined a team building houses in Svay Rieng province. BRTD customers are invited to join this project and the build in February 2010. Read more.
Calling All Reading Groups
Do you spent hours deciding what snacks to prepare instead of reading the book? Do you hate cleaning the house before your reading group arrives? We have solved your reading group dilemmas. Not only can we advise you of suitable books, offer free copies and discount your purchases, but now, high above Better Read Than Dead we have a built a Reading Group Room. Seating 8 comfortably, 10 or 12 at a pinch, we're happy to offer free use of this facility to any reading groups looking for a new home. For information about our Reading Groups click here.
One little project we're very proud of is our Historic Newtown Walking Map. Perfect for those Christmas blow-ins, or a lttle stocking stuffer, the map, with its stunning line drawings by local artist Pamela Horsnell, will keep you busy all afternoon. Apart from the obvious significant architectural and historic locations, such as the Trocadero and Albermarle Street; St Stephen's Church & Cemetery and Warren Ball Avenue, the map also contains some of our favourite shopping spots and watering holes. The BRTD Historic Newtown Walking Map is just $6.95 post free.