Better Read Than Dead

There is something to be said in this modern age for a bookstore that is filled with customers at all times of the year, not just at peak present-buying periods. Independent bookstore Better Read Than Dead is one such store. The shop, which has been in Newtown since 1996, is one of the most revered literary lands in Sydney and arguably a strong factor in why the city's literary community is thriving.

The seemingly never-ending walls of books seem like a positive challenge to explore rather than a daunting one. The shelves are lined with little place-cards that highlight staff recommendations; the fact that there are so many glowing reviews indicates the quality of titles that are stocked. It regularly hosts literary events from book launches to high tea with authors. Soon to come are literary tours where book-lovers will take expertly-guided tours in key literary gems around the world, from Paris to America's Deep South, retracing famous authors footsteps and immersing themselves into the local culture.

Image: James Horan