Introducing the ‘Bookstore of the Month’ series - November
Hello there, and welcome to Bookish’s first “Bookstore of the Month” post!
Adelaide is brimming with bookstores that deserve more recognition, so each month I will be selecting one of these stores to feature, recommend to you, and in doing so, nerd-out over.
Each bookstore of the month is selected based on the following criteria: vibes, range of books, location, fun features, and events/initiatives. Only the best of the best may be crowned.
Whether you’re looking to reminisce over well-known favourites, explore hidden treasures, or discover some newbies, you’ll find a bookstore for you in this series during coming months.
Now, without further ado, what is the bookstore of the month for November?
Well, it’s an old favourite of mine and many other Adelaideans.
Nestled along the Parade, Norwood, it arguably boasts our city’s vastest range of books.
… It’s Dillons Bookshop!
Vibes
With its navy blue, ornate exterior, Dillons is impressive before you’ve even entered its doors.
The sheer length of its shopfront - which is lined with outdoor book trolleys - is a testament to the immense amount of volumes it houses.
Upon stepping across its threshold, you're met with a bright, warm interior that stretches on and on with shelves and shelves of books.
Winding between the rows, it’s easy to lose track of time in Dillons - I spent over an hour there during my last visit, and I didn’t even browse through every section.
It's a space which feels at once intimate, captivating, and like a safe haven from the real world.
Range of books
As South Australia’s largest independent bookstore, it comes as no surprise that Dillons accommodates an enormous range of books.
Most genres span an entire row of shelves - from travel and business to fantasy and classics, they practically have everything.
There are also many books - and editions - that I don’t often see in other large bookstores.
George Orwell’s 1984, for instance, is available in around 10 different editions at Dillons. How wonderfully excessive!
Based on my observations, I’d argue Dillons Bookshop has one of the largest - if not the largest - ranges of books in South Australia.
Location
Dillons Bookshop is situated at the heart of the Parade, Norwood, which is often revered as Adelaide’s most iconic street.
Less than a kilometre from the city, the Parade features gorgeous bars, cafes, restaurants, fashion stores, and quirky gift shops - Dillons couldn’t be located in a more vibrant place.
A trip to Dillons Bookshop is a great addition to a day trip along the Parade - although you might find visiting takes up a larger part of your trip than you’d anticipated if you let yourself get lost amongst the books like I do.
I recommend following up a trip to Dillons with a coffee at Cibo or Saint George’s Bakehouse, before heading over to A Trip To The Moon to admire some quirky giftware. It’s become a tradition for my family.
Fun features
Dillons isn’t only vast in its range of books - it’s also vast in its range of games and puzzles.
From Agatha Christie-themed jigsaws to the Exploding Kittens card game, there are games and puzzles for all ages and interests - perfect for some Christmas shopping (or perhaps a treat for yourself on a rainy day).
Dillons houses some gorgeous, quality-made Paperblanks notebooks, planners, and diaries, too - I was very tempted to buy one, but I already have enough pretty, unused notebooks filling my desk at home from previous bookstore trips.
And for children at heart - or those wanting to bring a child along - Dillons’ children’s section features a striking wood-panelled tree that stretches to the ceiling, adorned with hanging lights and surrounded by a little reading nook, picture books and plushies.
Events/initiatives
Dillons Bookshop recurrently hosts author visits and book signings, with Eddie Betts and Ash Barty featured earlier this year.
Keep an eye on their Instagram page and events page for announcements on future author visits!
Dillons is also part of BookPeople (formerly the Australian Booksellers Association) and stocks their vibrant seasonal book guides, which you can pick up for free in-store or read online.
They’re the perfect way to stay on top of the Australian book scene while adding to your to-read list.
Some Australian gems from the current guide that I’ll be adding to my to-read list are The Lovers by Yumna Kassab and Moon Sugar by Angela Meyer.
Perhaps you’ll see one of those titles in a Bookish review soon…
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