Reading Guide The Rules of Backyard Cricket | Jock Serong | $29.99 | Text Publishing We first meet Darren Keefe, a former cricket player, with a bullet in his knee. Examining celebrity, masculinity and humanity, The Rules of Backyard Cricket shifts from a vivid tale of boyhood in 1970s Aussie suburbia to the thralls of an intense thriller.
The Best of Adam Sharp | Graeme Simsion | $32.99 | Text Publishing Nearly 50, Adam Sharp has a loyal partner and the lifestyle he wanted, but something’s missing. Then Angelina, who two decades prior had given Adam an opportunity he never seized, gets in touch. A novel about love, music and coming to terms with the past.
AUSTRALIAN FICTION
Father’s Day
Tell the Truth, Shame the Devil | Melina Marchetta | $32.99 | Penguin Random House Mischa says: In this gripping new thriller from the Australian author everyone grew up with, Marchetta reveals her mastery for suspense and heart-rending drama. Centred on the characters and events of a deadly bomb attack on a busload of British students, this is an irresistible novel about human identity, lost children and the nature of real love. The Windy Season | Sam Carmody | $29.99 | Allen & Unwin For weeks there’s been no trace of Elliot, a young fisherman missing from the crayfish boats that operate from the West Australian town of Stark. His younger brother Paul is the only one who seems to be active in the search. A fierce, evocative and memorable novel from the Geralton-based writer and musician.
Ruins | Rajith Savanadasa | $27.99 | Hachette Colombo is instantly recognisable in Savanadasa’s clear prose. Set in the ‘new’ Sri Lanka that has emerged after 30 years of civil war, this is an epic family drama. Latha wants a home. Anoushka wants an iPod. Lakshmi dreams of rescuing a lost boy. A beautifully told drama of clashing of values, tradition and desire set in the ‘new’ ruins.
The Toymaker | Liam Pieper | $32.99 | Penguin Random House With a successful toy company that brightens the lives of children, Adam Kulakov is happy with his life. His grandfather who he inherited the toy company off was given an impossible choice while imprisoned in Aushwitz and once all these skeletons start tumbling out of the closet, Adam’s life threatens to tumble around him.
The Easy Way Out | Steven Amsterdam | $29.99 | Hachette Dean says: A strong, amazing and very topical read! The Easy Way Out takes a look at assisted dying through the eyes of a nurse. From the very first page I knew that this was going to be a very strong book! Amsterdam writes with depth, flow and strength. It is easy to read and very moreish. Evan is a nurse reluctant to open up to anyone in his life until he works as an assistant to those dying. When Evan is confronted by his own mothers disintegration, it is interesting to see what is exposed emotionally beneath his closed exterior. This book questions your own views on mortality, life and the legality surrounding assisted dying. A must-read!
1
FICTION
Dear Mr M | Herman Koch | $29.99 | Penguin Random House The gripping new thriller from the bestselling author of The Dinner draws the reader into a dystopian critique of the literary world. Narrated from five different perspectives, fans of Koch’s breed of black humour and incisive wit will enjoy this story of retribution.
The Underground Railroad | Colson Whitehead | $32.99 | Hachette An extraordinary powerful read following Cora a slave on a Georgia cotton plantation and her journey by the underground railways as she risks her life heading North to freedom. Heartbreaking and tender this story is a literary winner in the making.
Here I Am l Jonathan Safran Foer | $32.99 | Penguin Random House Dean says: An intimate, domestic drama paralleled with mature, striking writing. The characters are rounded, their thoughts conflicting with their actions which lead to a humourous overshadow, familiar in Foers previous novels. The Block families fracturing become obvious when confronted with a crisis, an earthquake in the Middle East. Each family member questions their own identity and sense of home Blue Dog | Louis de Bernieres | $29.99 | Penguin Random House In this charming prequel to Red Dog, eleven-year-old Mick is sent to the outback of WA to live with his Granpa on a cattle station. It looks as if he has a lonely life ahead of him until a cyclone hits; exploring the floodwaters, he finds a lost puppy covered in mud and half-drowned. Whether you hold Red Dog close to your heart or not, the relationship between Mick and his charismatic dog as they grow up together whilst navigating their unusal and remote home will surely captivate and delight readers.
Heroes of the Frontier | Dave Eggers | $32.99 | Penguin Random House A tremendous, captivationg and often hilarious new novel from the best-selling author of The Circle, Heroes of the Frontier is the darkly comic story of a mother and her two young children on a journey through an Alaskan wilderness plagued by wildfires and a uniquely American madness. Behold the Dreamers | Imbolo Mbue | $29.99 | Harper Collins ‘We all do what we gotta do to become American, abi? Set in New York, 2007: meet Jende Jonga, who has just arrived from Cameroon. Clark Edwards, senior partner at Lehman Brothers bank is in need of a chauffeur, and fails to check the paperwork of his latest employee, Jende. This is a story around the idea of the American dream and sacrifice - where all is not as it seems.
The Schooldays of Jesus | J M Coetzee | $32.99 | Penguin Random House At the centre of this brilliant, dreamlike fable is David, a small boy who is always asking questions. Simón and Inés take care of him in their new country. Enrolled in the Academy of Dance in Estrella, he makes troubling discoveries about what grown-ups are capable of.
2
Nutshell | Ian McEwan | $32.99 | Penguin Random House A masterful interpretation of the classic murder story. There’s tension, mystery, and deceit as marital betrayal, the sanctity of the family unit and an unborn baby are drawn to the centre of a tumultuous plot. The unique voice of the narrator makes this an intriguing story.
Out of Bounds | Val McDermid | $32.99 | Hachette Karen Pirie finds herself irresistibly drawn to another mystery that she has no business investigating; when a teenage joyrider crashes a stolen car and ends up in a coma, a routine DNA test could be the key to unlocking the mystery of a twenty-year-old murder inquiry that has its roots in a terrorist bombing. Bringing together grief, terrorism, murder, justice and forensics, this is Val McDermid’s most gripping, chilling and suspenseful novel yet!
The Black Widow | Daniel Silva | $32.99 | Harper Collins Gabriel Allon, legendary spy and classic art restorer, is poised to become chief of the secret intelligence service. But on the eve of his promotion, he’s lured into the field for one final operation. A bomb has been detonated in Paris, and a desperate French government wants Gabriel to eliminate the man responsible before he can strike again. Darktown | Thomas Mullen | $32.99 | Hachette Set in 1948 Atlanta and exploring a murder, corrupt police and strained race relations, this riveting and elegant police procedural feels ripped from today’s headlines. Responding to orders from on high, the Atlanta Police Department is forced to hire its first black officers, including war veterans Lucius Boggs and Tommy Smith.
Poison City | Paul Crilley | $32.99 | Hachette A dark fantastical sci-fi crime series set in South Africa. This will appeal to fans of Aaronovitch but leaves Peter Grant in a very glossy light as London Tau the wizard cop and his cohorts in the Delphic Division tread a violent, dark and gritty path fighting against the orisha of Durban, the poison city.
Lord of the Darkwood | Lian Hearn | $29.99 | Hachette In this magnificent new epic, destined to become a modern classic, Hearn transports us to a mythical Japanese world set 300 years before Tales of the Otori. Against a background of wild forest, elegant castles and savage battlefields, Lian Hearn’s Tale of Shikanoko series draws to its thrilling conclusion.
Nevernight | Jay Kristoff | $29.99 | Harper Collins Scifi/fantasy mastermind Jay Kristoff’s new epic series is set in a dangerous world where heroine, Mia Corvere is edged in darkness. With surreal, inventive prose, a Hoqwarts-esque school for assassins and Terry Pratchett style footnotes, Nevernight is a dark and all-consuming page-turner!
The Last Days of Paris | China Mieville | $29.99 | Pan Macmillan Mieville’s latest novel showcases his talent for fusing elements of different genres - in this case, sci-fi, historical fiction and speculative fiction - and tells the story of a 1940s Paris with an alternative history one where Nazis are engaged in ongoing conflict.
CRIME FICTION / FANTASY
Dark Matter | Blake Crouch | $29.99 | Pan Macmillan From the author of the hit series Wayward Pines comes another dark, mind-bending thriller. Jason wakes one day and his life is not the one he knows. Is it this world or the other that’s the dream? How can Jason possibly make it back to the family he loves? The answers lie in a journey more wondrous and horrifying than anything he could’ve imagined - one that will force him to confront the darkest parts of himself.
3
BIOGRAPHY
My Year Without Meat | Richard Cornish | $29.99 | Penguin Random House Food journalist Richard Cornish makes an interesting addition to the literature that deals with the ethics of meat consumption from a culinary rather than social or political perspective, making the point that abstaining is a valuable experience that’s worth trying (even if it’s temporary)!
Brett Whiteley | Ashleigh Wilson | $49.99 | Text Publishing Whiteley left behind decades of activity; some works bound to a particular place or time, others that are masterpieces of light and line. Written with new insight and illustrated with artworks this dazzling biography reveals for the first time the full portrait of a mercurial artist. The Hate Race l Maxine Beneba Clarke | $32.99 | Hachette Mariana says: Unputdownable! Clarke’s cleverly weaves social critique with a very personal narrative. Nelson says: Powerful and gutwrenching, Clarke perfectly instils the prolific othering that occurs in Australia. Gin says: Clarke’s memoir is a moving testimony to story and survival. Dean says: The powerful story Clarke weaves of a familiar Australian childhood is abruptly shattered by hatred.
The Tao of Bill Murray | Gavin Edwards | $32.99 | Penguin Random House People love crazy stories about Bill Murray’s life outside of movies: he reads poetry to construction workers, joins in strangers’ kickball games, steals a golf cart in Stockholm, pays a kid to ride his bike into a swimming pool etc. The book not only has the greatest hits of Bill’s eye-opening interactions with the world but also puts them in the context of a life-affirming philosophy, revealed to the author in an exclusive interview.
The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu | Joshua Hammer | $32.99 | Allen & Unwin This is an inspiring account of a rare victory of art and literature. In the 1980s, adventurer, mild-mannered archivist and collector for a government library, Abdel Kader Haidara, journeyed across the Sahara finding and restoring ancient Islamic and secular manuscripts, and later went on to save them from al Qaeda. All This in 60 Minutes | Nicholas Lee | $32.99 | Allen & Unwin Cameraman for the eponymous (and most watched) current affairs program for more than thirty years has left Nicholas Lee with a war-chest of stories. Compelling, funny and eye-opening, All This in 60 Minutes perfectly encapsulates the controlled chaos of news production.
Good Vibrations | Mike Love | $29.99 | Allen & Unwin Mike Love is a founding member, lyricist and vocalist of The Beach Boys. In Good Vibrations he tells the unique story of his legendary, chaotic, and ultimately triumphant five-decade tenure as the front man of The Beach Boys, from their Californian roots to international fame.
4
Grant & I | Robert Forster | $35.00 | Penguin Random House This is story of Grant McLennan and Robert Forster, who gave Australia The Go-Betweens, one of our best and most influential bands. Grant and I is an extraordinary portrait of an intense, creative, sometimes fraught friendship.
Ghost Empire | Richard Fidler | $29.99 | Harper Collins In 2014, Fidler and his son made a journey to Istanbul. Fired by Richard’s passion for the rich history of the dazzling Byzantine Empire we are swept into some of the most extraordinary tales in history; the clash of civilizations, the fall of empires. Ghost Empire is a revelation: a beautifully written ode to a lost civilization, and a father-son adventure far from home.
1787 | Nick Brodie | $29.99 | Hardie Grant 1787 traces Australia before 1788 exploring just how ‘discovered’ the continent was by not only the Indigenous Australians, but also the sailors, traders, fishermen and many others. Charting the encounters with Australia and its original people by several major groups of visitors 1787 reveals the stories of first encounters between Indigenous Australians and foreigners.
Dadland | Keggie Carew | $32.99 | Penguin Random House Keggie takes us on a spellbinding journey, in peace and war, into surprising and shady corners of history, her rackety English childhood, the poignant breakdown of her family, the corridors of dementia and beyond. She celebrates the technicolour life of an impossible, irresistible, unstoppable man, her father and soldier Tom Carew.
NON-FICTION
Known and Strange Things | Teju Cole | $29.99 | Allen & Unwin Karma says; With this collection of more than fifty pieces on politics, photography, travel, history, and literature, Teju Cole solidifies his place as one of today’s most powerful and original voices. He finds fresh and potent ways to interpret art, people and history; and subjects from Virginia Woolf, Shakespeare, and W. G. Sebald to Instagram, Barack Obama, and Boko Haram. The Way to the Spring | Ben Ehrenreich | $32.99 | Allen & Unwin Over the past three years, Ben Ehrenreich has been traveling to and living in the West Bank, staying with Palestinian families in its largest cities and its smallest villages. In a great act of bravery, and empathy, Ehrenreich, by placing us in the footsteps of ordinary Palestinians and telling their story, makes it impossible for us to turn away.
The History of Australian in 100 Objects | Toby Creswell | $49.99 | Penguin Random House Some iconic, others quirky and unexpected, these 100 objects tell the story of Australia’s history. From Captain Cook’s globe to Mabo’s map, and Ned Kelly’s armour to Julia Gillard’s glasses, they are each the starting point from which Toby Creswell explores the stories that make up our national history.
Homo Deus | Yuval Noah Harari | $35.00 | Penguin Harari, author of Sapiens, examines our future with his trademark blend of science, history, philosophy and every discipline in between. Homo Deus explores the projects, dreams and nightmares that will shape the twenty-first century – from overcoming death to artificial life.
The Phoenix Years | Madeleine O’Dea | $34.99 | Allen & Unwin This is the story of China’s rise from to a global giant since the country started opening to the world. The narrative is illuminated by the story of the country’s emerging artistic avant-garde and ongoing struggle for freedom of expression.
5
COOKING
Neighbourhood l Hetty McKinnon | $39.99 | Pan Macmillan Hetty McKinnon - establisher of the Arthur Street Kitchen - is back, with a second cookbook that is equally sure to delight and inspire. Neighbourhood takes its cues from Community and ventures a little bit further; these salad and sweets recipes are inspired by many different places, journeying from Brooklyn to the greater Americas, the Mediterranean, Asia, France, Australia and many other places around the world for inspiration. Neighbourhood continues Hetty’s philosophy of ‘local food for local people.’
King of the Grill | Ross Dobson | $45.00 | Murdoch Books From the master of the barbecue tongs comes a bumper collection of approximately 200 of Ross Dobson’s favourite recipes for the grill and hotplate. This comprehensive compilation presents a versatile array of flavoursome and exciting recipes, ranging from a casual - but perfectly cooked - steak to a weekend feast for friends. In addition to much-loved Australian classics, Dobson draws on influences from around the globe.
The Field Guide to Australian Produce | Ewan McEoin | $60.00 | Thames & Hudson Thoroughly researched and beautifully designed, The Field Guide to Australian Produce showcases the most progressive and respected producers at the heart of Australia’s vibrant food industry. Interviews with leading chefs and food heroes accompany 100 profiles on the most important artisanal growers and producers on the land today.
The Natural Cook | Matt Stone | $39.99 | Murdoch Books How do you cook irresistible food without harming the planet? It’s all about adopting new habits - opening your eyes to local foods and making the best of them, reducing waste by using every last bit of each ingredient, and enjoying well-raised meat and fish (while saving the bones to make the best broth ever)! Matt Stone is a passionate advocate of zero-waste cooking and ethical food, and an even bigger fan of a cracking meal.
Iconic Whisky | Cyrille Mald & Alexander Vingtier | $39.99 | Hachette Mark Twain said “Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough.” Iconic Whisky contains everything you needs to know; from different types of whisky to the stages of the production process, grain types, husks, casks, glassware and vocabulary. Featuring 1500 whiskies along with maps showing areas of production and a multitude of illustrations, this book is everything you need to become a true connoisseur.
6
Halliday Wine Companion | James Halliday | $39.99 | Hardie Grant Keenly anticipated each year, the Halliday Wine Companion is recognised as the industry benchmark for Australian wine. Halliday shares his extensive knowledge of wine through detailed tasting notes, each with vintagespecific ratings and advice on optimal drinking. He provides information about the wineries and winemakers, as well as vineyard sizes and opening times.
The Great Outdoors | Lisa Sonne | $17.99 | Murdoch Books Make your dream destinations a reality with The Great Outdoors; a bucket list of must-see places. Whether you’re interested in hiking the toughest trails, taking in the prettiest sights, or visiting the most beautiful national parks, this journal will guide you through.
TRAVEL / GIFT
Atlas of Improbable Places | Travis Elborough | $39.99 | Allen & Unwin Deserted cities, strange settlements, remote islands, underground labyrinths. The book uncovers our planet’s most unique, intriguing and often unknown places. Each entry provides key information, wittily observed, and is accompanied by beautiful illustrations.
Bad Dads: Art Inspired by the Films of Wes Anderson l Spoke Art Gallery | $45.00 | Thames and Hudson James says: What better way to celebrate Father’s Day than with some bad dads, Wes Anderson style! This is the third volume in the Wes Anderson Collection series, showcasing the best artwork from “Bad Dads,” an annual exhibition of art inspired by the films of Wes Anderson. Ranging from paintings to sculptures to limited-edition screen prints and vary greatly in style makes for a diverse and lively collection. The book features an original cover by graphic artist Max Dalton, a foreword by writer and director Wes Anderson himself, and an introduction by TV and movie critic Matt Zoller Seitz, author of the bestselling Wes Anderson Collection books. Epic Bike Rides of the World | Lonely Planet | $49.99 | Lonely Planet This is a beautiful hardback of great rides all over the world. From family-friendly, sightseeing urban rides to epic adventures off the beaten track. Destinations range from France and Italy, for the world’s great bike races, to the wilds of Mongolia and Patagonia. These journeys will inspire - whether you are an experienced cyclist or just getting started.
My Old Man: Tales of Our Fathers | Anthology | $29.99 | Allen & Unwin In this carefully curated collection, a dazzling list of contributors open up about their paternal experiences. From the heart-rending to the tragic, from expressions of joyful love to a quick snapshot of a life, these beautifully written pieces are also deeply personal. My Old Man encourages us to reflect on our own relationships with our dads. The Dad | Jason Hazeley | $19.99 | Penguin Random House This delightful book is the latest in the series of Ladybird books which have been specially planned to help grownups with the world about them. The large clear script, the careful choice of words, the frequent repetition and the thoughtful matching of text with pictures all enable grown-ups to think they have taught themselves to cope.
Portraits | William Eggleston | $60.00 | Thames & Hudson Morgan says: The eminent American photographer William Eggleston (b. 1939) was a pioneer in exploring the artistic potential of color photography. Eggleston made a name for himself with his eccentric, unexpected compositions of everyday life that were nonetheless rife with implied narrative, elevating the commonplace to art. This sumptuously illustrated book features Eggleston’s masterful portraits, including many familiar and beloved images as well as some previously unseen photographs from his long and productive career. The book is published in association with the National Portrait Gallery, London.
7
CHILDREN’S FICTION
My Dad Used to Be so Cool | Keith Negley | $24.99 | Flying Eye Books A playful, emotional story, My Dad Used To Be So Cool tells the tale of a new father reflecting on how he is no longer the cool guy he once was. But looking back on his crazy times being in a band, riding a motorcycle, and getting tattoos, he realises that though those days may be behind him, his young son still thinks he’s the coolest guy in the world.
Amazing Daddy | Rachel Bright | $14.99 | Orchard Books Join Daddy Panda and Little Panda as they spend a day together, sharing many special moments along the way. This laugh-out-loud bear hug of a picture book celebrates the special relationship between father and child in a story full of warmth, humour and love... “My daddy is a year-round superhero, a daddy for all seasons!”
Grandpa is Great | Laine Mitchell & Alison Edgson | $16.99 | Scholastic In this rhyming story each page depicts an animal with its grandfather, doing all sorts of activities. Share the baby animals’ fun with their grandpas as they race, dance, make things and play games together. The humour in the illustrations will add another layer of interest to the sharing of the story!
Better Read Than Dead
September Trading Hours
265 King Street Newtown NSW 2042
Monday - Sunday 9.30am - 9.00pm
E books@betterread.com.au P (+61 2) 9557 8700 F (+61 2) 9557 8560 W betterread.com.au
8
Wild Pa | Claire Saxby & Connah Crecon | $24.99 | Random House “My Pa is not a quiet Pa, a sit-and-read-the-news Pa. My Pa is a Wild Pa – and Wild Pas are lots of fun.” A book celebrating the adventurous spirit inside every grandad, pop and pa, Wild Pa is one to be enjoyed by all generations.
Where’s Dad Hiding | Ed Allen & Anil Tortop | $16.99 | Scholastic Where is Dad? Dad is too good at playing hide and seek. Little wombat can’t find him anywhere! Dad is not at home, he’s nowhere to be seen at the beach, and he’s definitely not hiding in the garden. Can you see where Dad is hiding?
Stay Up-to-Date Better Read Than Dead @BRTDbookshop @betterreadbookshop Better Reader