Spring New Releases Prize Fighter | Future D Fidel | $29.99 | Hachette It is the simplicity with which this is written that makes Prize Fighter a knockout! After losing his parents and becoming a boy soldier in the Republic of Congo, Isa is granted refugee status in Australia. He boxes at a Westend gym to feel closer to his missing brother. As he touches on becoming a champion prize fighter he also gains some clarity with the horrors of his past. An emotionally charged novel based on Fidel’s critically acclaimed play.
Hey Brother | Jarrah Dundler | $29.99 | Allen & Unwin A powerful coming-of-age tale told by Trystan, a young boy living in rural Australia. Trystan looks up to his brother Shaun, a soldier fighting in Afghanistan, and tries to live as his brother has instructed, staying out of trouble. Sounds easy enough but with his mother’s drinking and his wayward father, Trystan finds himself fighting at both school and home. When Shaun returns from war a different man, Trystan has another task on his hands: keeping Shaun out of trouble.
AUSTRALIAN FICTION
Father’s Day Reading Guide
A Superior Spectre | Angela Meyer | $29.99 | Simon & Schuster This debut follows Jeff who, upon news of his imminent death, runs away to Scotland with an experimental device that gives him access into the minds of people from the past. It is dangerous, but he has nothing to lose. And so we meet Leonora, living a somewhat normal life in the Scottish Highlands in the 1860s until strange visions begin to disturb her... A haunting tale which blends sci-fi and historical fiction and transcends temporal and geographical borders.
Dinner with the Dissidents | John Tesarsch | $29.99 | Affirm Press Leonid works for the Australian government but becomes increasingly uncomfortable with the new metadata laws. Memories of another life in Russia, where surveillance and betrayal were part of the norm, haunt Leonid as he approaches retirement in his adopted country. But can he make up for the past? Leonid’s former life – ‘employed’ by the KGB to infiltrate Alexander Solzhenitsyn’s inner circle – is utterly fascinating (and a surprising mirror to the politics of today). In addition, Tersarsch’s achingly beautiful language and strong characterisations are exceptional.
The Wounded Sinner | Gus Henderson | $19.95 | Magabala Books A mesmerising debut from a talented first-time author. Shifting in setting between the quiet outskirts of Perth and sleepy Leonora (a rural mining town on the goldfields of WA), Henderson’s novel is at once intimate and panoramic. It distills the universal and the philosophical out of the more quotidian domestic dramas of Archie, Matthew, and Jeanie. The Wounded Sinner tackles what it means to grow old, to live with fidelity and integrity; and indeed, to be mortal and fallible. Fascinating, gritty, and deeply human.
2028 l Ken Saunders | $29.99 | Allen & Unwin All we can say is… Ken Saunders for Prime Minister! In this hilarious and outrageous book, Saunders takes the very worst of today’s society and lets it fester for 10 years. The result is his debut novel, a political satire that’s sure to get you laughing… and worrying deeply about the future of Australia!
1
FICTION
Astroturf | Matthew Sperling | $26.99 | Hachette Ned is 30 and under-flourishing until he starts using steroids and everything gets much better, or does it? Sperling pokes under the covers of steroid use with a keen sense of humour, exploring identity, masculinity and class. Just fantastic!
French Exit | Patrick deWitt | $29.99 | Bloomsbury Quirky, strange, joyous and absurd; deWitt’s writing is lightly refreshing yet darkly comic. The characters, bitter-hearted Francis and her hilariously detached son Malcolm, are brilliant. If you like off-beat books then this wonderful, frivolous absurdist comedy is for you
Our Friends in Berlin | Anthony Quinn | $32.99 | Penguin Random House A literary espionage with edge. Set in Britain 1941, John Hoste is not who he appears to be. Entangled in treachery, he has a particular mission: to locate the most dangerous Nazi agent in the country. A story about deception and loyalty, this is a masterful spy novel which is equal parts intelligent and tense.
Now We Shall Be Entirely Free | Andrew Miller | $32.99 | Hachette A literary historical novel with the touch of a thriller? If anyone can do this kind of hybrid justice it is Miller and his critically-acclaimed, luminous prose. Set in the aftermath of Britain’s disastrous campaign against Napoleon in Spain in 1809, this is the perfect gift for the dad with a sense of adventure. It has a bit of everything: escape, unexpected friendships, and love — all with the threat of death hanging over everything.
Immigrant, Montana | Amitava Kumar | $29.99 | Allen & Unwin A genre-defying reinvention of the ‘immigrant’ novel, Kumar explores postcolonial identity with wit and sincerity. Reminiscent of W.G. Sebald’s work, here is a voice that is elliptical, self-deprecating and brilliantly ambiguous. The result is one of the most distinctive novels of the decade. The Wolf Hour | Sarah Myles | $29.99 | Allen & Unwin An engrossing story about the abduction of an Australian PhD student researching PTSD in child soldiers in Africa. Her kidnapping and ensuing “rescue” convey ideas about naivety, greed and the limits of family relationships. Melbourne writer Myles merges family drama with tension, mystery and politics to create a powerful thriller.
Sea Prayer | Khaled Hosseini | $24.99 | Bloomsbury From the beloved author of The Kite Runner comes a powerful, lushly illustrated short work of fiction inspired by the current refugee crisis, taking the form of a letter from a father to his son before a perilous sea voyage taken to escape war-torn Syria. Hosseini has done it again!
2
Take Nothing With You | Patrick Gale | $32.99 | Hachette A nostalgic examination of the author’s own boyhood experiences and an unapologetically modern look at sexuality. Gale’s work is by turns rivetingly idiosyncratic and inexpressibly expansive, quietly joyous and deeply melancholic. It is, in short, a must-read.
The Plotters | Un-su Kim | $29.99 | Text Nordic-noir is so last year! If you want to be at the vanguard of the latest crime wave sweeping the world, look no further than Korea, where the genre is being redefined. Set in the corrupt Korean underworld, this is a literary work with an incredible cast of characters, complex morals and deliciously dark wit. Kim has drawn comparisons with Murakami, and there’s no higher praise than that.
The Other Woman | Daniel Silva | $32.99 | HarperCollins Silva is the master of the espionage thriller with an uncanny knack of presaging international political crises. A Russian mole embedded deep in the West is threatening to undo the postwar global order. The Other Woman perfectly showcases Silva’s trademark searing pace, double-crosses, twists and breathtaking endings.
CRIME FICTION / FANTASY
Believe Me l JP Delaney | $32.99 | Hachette Claire is forced to work for a legal divorce firm that requires her to pose as an easy pick-up in hotel bars in order to catch unfaithful husbands. However, when one of her targets becomes the subject of a murder investigation, Claire gets caught up in the mix, hired by the police to lull him into a confession. But is this man really a killer? An enthralling read.
The Ones You Trust | Caroline Overington | $29.99 | HarperCollins Overington keeps us guessing until the very end of this creepy new thriller. The daughter of a top-rating morning news host is picked up by a stranger from day care. As the pressure mounts, her family’s life comes under examination.
The Stars Now Unclaimed | Drew Williams | $32.99 | Simon & Schuster A fast-paced debut, the first in a trilogy and a must-read for battle fans who love the epic experience of Star Wars or Ready Player One. It kicks off with a soldier, a preacher and a telekinetic girl on board the same ship, preparing for battle. A tale of friendship, betrayal and war, set in a brilliantly crafted universe filled with pirates, smugglers and spies. Ball Lightning | Cixin Liu | $29.99 | HarperCollins 14-year-old Chen resolves to unlock the secrets of ball lightning, traveling far and slowly unveiling a new frontier in particle physics. Conjuring awe-inspiring cosmologies, vivid characters, and knotty ethical questions, this is an exhilarating read.
City of Lies | Sam Hawke | $32.99 | Random House Following siblings Jovan and Kalina in Silastra, an ancient city with a dark history, this is a compelling new fantasy series. City of Lies is a tale of poison, mystery, political intrigue, passion and magic, perfect for fans of Robin Hobb. I Always Find You | John Ajvide Lindqvist | $32.99 | Text For psychological horror you cannot beat the master of macabre. Something is happening in the laundry room in John’s apartment. As he and his neighbours investIgate, John discovers the evil in himself and the loneliness driving him towards human connections, wherever he may find them.
3
BIOGRAPHY
Overlander | Rupert Guinness | $35.00 | Simon & Schuster The Indian Pacific Wheel Race is an epic bike race where competitors travel unassisted from Fremantle, WA to the Sydney Opera House. Cycling journalist Guinness pens a compelling memoir on the race he endured during which a terrible tragedy stopped the competitors in their tracks.
Loose Units | Paul F. Verhoeven | $34.99 | Penguin Random House In this stunning work, Verhoeven’s father John opens up for the first time about his career with the police force. Demonstrating fear, grit and sensitivity, John’s story is intensely honest and gives readers a new perspective on crime and what it takes to be a cop. Best Foot Forward l Adam Hills | $32.99 | Hachette Humour is hard-won, and Hill contributes to this idea with his first memoir. Sharing anecdotes from his childhood, where his love of comedy was first fostered by his father, through to his early days of performing standup and what he has learned from the industry’s best, we get to bear witness to the intense craft of comedy while kicking back and enjoying Hills’s warm wit.
Rocky Road | Robert Wainwright | $32.99 | Allen & Unwin In the 1930s, the Darrell Lea confectionary company was a sensation yet the family tale behind the Australian business is anything but sweet. Valerie Lea was an eccentric mother and wanted a large family - in addition to her four children she adopted three more as “playthings.” It was a social experiment that would tear both the family and the fortune apart. This biography engages eccentricities and high dramas of a wealthy yet fractured family.
Cecil Healy | John DeVitt & Larry Writer | $39.95 | Stoke Hill Press Over 100 years after his death, this book celebrates champion swimmer, Cecil Healy, Australia’s only Olympic gold medallist to die at war. Healy was a true sportsman: an icon and an inspiration for many. A compelling story of one man within Australia’s first great era of swimming and early Olympic achievements. The Rapids | Sam Twyford-Moore | $32.99 | NewSouth An incredible and beautifully written book, The Rapids explores mania and depression and their portrayals in popular culture. Through his personal experience, research, and film and literary criticisms, Twyford-Moore weaves an earnest, insightful, humorous and heartfelt narrative. This is an important, powerful and poetic read.
Beyond the Break | Darren Longbottom & Tim RushbySmith | $34.99 | Penguin Random House Born into surfing royalty, Longbottom has saltwater running through his veins. Here he tells the story of the wave he caught in the remote Mentawai Islands that profoundly changed his life, and the painful and perilous journey that followed as he made his way home to his wife and young daughter.
4
The Unpunished Vice | Edmund White | $29.99 | Bloomsbury In this generous blend of memoir and literary criticism, White chronicles his life through the books he has read. It’s hardly surprising that reading has shaped the life of this acclaimed author and critic, but the ways White pairs his lived experiences with his favourite books are heartfelt, insightful and beautiful to read.
Fatherhood | William McInnes | $29.99 | Hachette Reading McInnes is like having a friendly chat over the fence with your witty neighbour about the joy, the nostalgia, and the unexpected pains and pleasures of fatherhood. A highlight is the heartfelt letter he wrote to his daughter, who was to read it while attending a Year 11 retreat, in which he fuses references to Darth Vader and Humphrey B Bear! Destined to be a hit.
Hell Ship | Michael Veitch | $32.99 | Allen & Unwin If you thought cruise ship gastro stories were bad, well! In 1852, 800 poor Scottish and English emigrants left England. When their ship arrived in Melbourne, it was waving the yellow contagion flag. Michael Veitch’s greatgreat-grandparents met on board, tending to the countless dying and ill, and their story of migration and resilience has been passed down through the generations and now, to us.
1965 | Andrew Grant Jackson | $24.99 | St. Martin’s Press You may not have noticed at the time, but 1965 was in fact the most revolutionary year in music. Jackson’s nuanced history chronicles this year in detail, looking at the now classic songs which were released in this period alongside the social drivers in American and British popular culture that led to this burst of innovation in the industry, an ultimately changed the musical landscape forever.
NON-FICTION
Milk! | Mark Kurlansky | $32.99 | Bloomsbury Since humans domesticated animals more than 10,000 years ago, animal milk has been used for all manner of human consumables. Today milk arouses major issues in food politics, from industrial farming and animal rights to GMOs, the locavore movement, and advocates for raw milk. Kurlansky evaluates its role in cultural evolution, religion, nutrition, politics, and economics. A thoroughly edifying read! The Football Solution | George Megalogenis | $32.99 | Penguin Random House This is not simply a book about football. Rather, Megalogenis uses the sport (and Richmond’s successful 2017 season in particular) as a lens through which to view Australia’s current state of affairs and how we might be able to cope with the myriad issues plaguing our political and cultural landscape. A compelling and bracing read unlike any other you’ll come across this year.
The Bulldog Track | Peter Phelps | $32.99 | Hachette Nothing speaks to the notions of survival and mateship like the Kokoda Trail. Wellknown actor Peter Phelps shares the story of his grandfather, Tom, who was forced to walk ‘the other Kokoda’ trail through the highlands of New Guinea as a means of making it home after the outbreak of war in the Pacific. A remarkable story of survival, courage and Aussie spirit that will engross readers. Boom and Bust | Royce Kurmelovs | $32.99 | Hachette An examination of those who lived through the prosperous mining boom in Australia and how they are dealing with the evaporation of jobs and wealth. Revealing the reality behind the headlines, this is a sobering tale of greed, irresponsibility and failure to learn from the past.
The Edge of Memory | Patrick Nunn | $29.99 | Bloomsbury Celebrating ancestor tales and living knowledge, these stories describe a lost landscape, often featuring tales of flooding and submergence. Geologists can now corroborate these tales, finding information that could assist our understanding of issues involving climate and water. A fascinating read.
5
COOKING
The Village l Matt & Lentil Purbrick | $45.00 | Pan Macmillan Matt and Lentil Purbrick’s ethos of “Grown and Gathered” is applied on a larger scale in their latest book to encompass not only one’s family, but the whole village. There’s advice on how to start and nurture a veggie garden as well as fresh recipes that invite many helping hands. Readers are encouraged to slow down and take time with others — be they our family, friends or neighbours — and to get our hands dirty and make something delicious to be enjoyed by all.
Brew A Batch | Christopher Sidwa | $39.99 | Murdoch If you live in Sydney and you drink craft beer then it’s safe to assume you’ve sampled Batch Brewing Co. - you may have even whiled away some time in their Marrickville brewery. Chris Sidwa co-founded Batch with simplicity in mind (a necessity as he was new to the brew) and simplicity is what you get in this guide. The focus is on hand-crafting fresh, quality beers using the best local ingredients. We’re more than happy to tastetest your home-brew if needed!
Family | Hetty McKinnon | $39.99 | Pan Macmillan When we think of family meals, we picture comfort food — hearty, uncomplicated, fresh dishes. Hetty McKinnon’s latest is full of delicious, vegetable-based family food featuring multicultural and heirloom recipes, old favourites and healthier versions of much-loved classics. McKinnon captures the essence of traditional family food whilst modernising and “healthifying” our daily cooking routine.
XXL | Billy Law | $39.99 | Smith Street Here Law pays homage to Elvis and other great eaters, like you and me. Luther Vandross — late, great American singer whose hits include but are not limited to ‘Never Too Much’ — has his name attached to the extra large cheeseburger sandwiched by two glazed doughnuts. Described as the size of a baseball, this monster meatball stuffed with cheese sounds like an absolute treat. Another one we yearn for is the blackened shrimp and four cheese nachos, a magical flavour collision course.
The Little Bacon Cookbook | Jack Campbell | $29.99 | Smith Street Is there honestly anything better in this world than bacon? This is a masterful cookbook using everyone’s favourite ingredient in new and delicious ways! The Little Bacon Cookbook contains a multitude of easy, delicious recipes to please all tastes, whether that’s sweet, savoury or somewhere in-between!
6
Fire Food | DJ BBQ | $24.99 | Quadrille YouTube BBQ master DJ BBQ, aka Christian Stevenson is on fire (ha ha) with this fun, fast and furious cookingwith-flames guide. He covers what wood to use, how to prep your BBQ, and how to cook dirty, directly on hot coals. The recipes look delicious and offer plenty of options for vegetarians as well as dedicated carnivores. Bring it on!
LIFESTYLE
The Very Embarrassing Book of Dad Jokes 2: Because Your Dad Still Thinks He’s Hilarious | Ian Allen | $17.99 | HarperCollins Ah dads… If yours is like mine, his jokes tend to elicit a groan from the often regrettably captive audience. So why not spice up his repertoire a little? Replete with classic, punny one-liners, this book is perfect for very serious dinner conversions or to lighten the mood at family gatherings. Highly recommended for fathers-in-training too. Why? Because your dad thinks he’s hilarious, but we know the truth. Give him a hint this Father’s Day!
Slow Down and Grow Something l Byron Smith & Tess Robinson | $39.99 | Murdoch Gardening inspiration for the urbanite who is probably lacking in time and/or space. This beautiful book is filled with helpful hints for cultivating an urban garden, and recipes to create once said urban garden bears the fruit of your labours. Smith’s focus is on connecting us to our garden, teaching us to make our own food, and to help keep us grounded amidst the busyness/business of life!
Shakespeare’s Library | Stuart Kells | $34.99 | Text The enduring mystery of the whereabouts (and even the existence) of Shakespeare’s library has baffled historians and bibliophiles for centuries, as no trace of the famed playwright and poet’s private collection of books or manuscripts has ever surfaced. In this engaging work, Kells devotes himself to unravelling the profound cultural and historical implications of this (lack of) discovery. Entertaining and enlightening, Shakespeare’s Library is a captivating exploration of one of literature’s most intriguing enigmas.
Magnificent Motorcycle Trips of the World | Colette Coleman | $29.99 | Simon & Schuster Talk about wanderlust! From the sealed tarmac of Europe and the USA to more far-flung corners of the globe, this book will inspire the most hardened hodophobes to don the leathers and take to the road! With fabulous photos and maps, this is a passport to freedom. The ideas are endless. Now, where are we off to first… Patagonia? Wyoming? Morocco? Iceland?
Milkwood | Kirsten Bradley & Nick Ritar | $45.00 | Murdoch From curious histories to DIY projects and wild fermented recipes, the in-depth knowledge and hands-on instructions contained in this book will inspire you to get growing, preserving, cooking and making. A fun, motivating book that’s good for both you and the earth.
Notes On A Nervous Planet | Matt Haig | $27.99 | Allen & Unwin Matt Haig knows exactly how to cut through the crap and remind us all what is important. In a world that often feels like it is going to the dogs, he reminds us to step back from the things that are making us anxious. He encourages us to put down our phones, to focus on real life communication, and to try and remember that sometimes things aren’t as bad as they seem. This is a beautiful book with an incredible message, one that everyone in our society would benefit from reading, especially while taking a break from their phones and savouring a moment to themselves.
7
CHILDREN’S
High Five to the Boys | Various | $29.99 | Penguin Random House Cheers to our Ace Australian Men! Illustrated by Australian male artists, this book celebrates the diversity of male role models in our country. From World Champion Surfer Mick Fanning to songwriter Paul Kelly and mathematician/ teacher Eddie Woo, we learn about their careers, their inspiration and the belief they had in themselves. We hope they inspire you to use your courage and determination to follow your own dreams.
Anna and Otis | Maisie Shearring | $24.99 | Pan Macmillan Anna has a very unusual friend, Otis the snake. They have so much fun together but only at home or in the garden because Otis knows that people are scared of him. A most endearing and funny story about making friends and overcoming your fears. Complete with delightful illustrations, this is a great read-aloud book.
My Dad is a Robot | Matt Cosgrove | $17.99 | Scholastic Matt Cosgrove has quickly become one of our favourite local author/illustrators for his bonkers sense of humour and joyful illustrations. In his latest, we’re let in on a secret - this kid’s dad is a robot! He’s not as high-tech as you might think however, and his batteries are always running flat. Do you think your dad could be a robot?! Reading this aloud will have the whole family in stitches.
The Peski Kids and the Mystery of the Squashed Cockroach | R.A. Spratt | $16.99 | Penguin Random House A hilariously clever new series full of international espionage, sibling rivalry, and mystery, all set in Currawong. The Peski kids and Pumpkin the dog find themselves embroiled in the mystery of who is killing all the town’s cockroaches. Can they solve the mystery before the great annual cockroach race?
I Had Such Friends | Meg Gatland-Veness | $19.99 | Bloomsbury This debut finds beautiful moments in trauma and reveals truths about the human condition with empathy and fragility. Set in small town Australia, this emotionally raw novel will speak to adolescents as well as adults. Gatland-Veness has created a poignant journey of self-discovery, grief and the tragic power of silence that will foster important conversations about school and family culture in Australia.
Better Read Than Dead
Trading Hours
265 King Street Newtown NSW 2042
Monday - Sunday 9.30am - 9.00pm
E books@betterread.com.au P (+61 2) 9557 8700 W betterread.com.au
8
The Storm Keeper’s Island | Catherine Doyle | $14.99 | Bloomsbury When 11-year old Fionn steps onto Arranmore to visit his grandfather, the island comes alive. Little does he know that his grandad is the island’s Storm Keeper – part historian, part magicmanager. Who will be the next Keeper? Like Nevermoor, this magical adventure story will completely sweep you off your feet!
Stay Up-to-Date Better Read Than Dead
@betterreadbookshop
Better Read Kids
@betterreadkids
Better Read Literary Tours
@betterreadtours @BRTDbookshop