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Come join us at The Open Book, where Lois Cox and Hilary Lapsley, writing as Jennifer Palgrave, will read from their latest crime novel, 'Where the River Goes'. Free entry, with drinks and snacks provided. Sunday 24 November, 3pm.
~1,500 clearance books - all $5 each or five for $15
Plus 10,000 other second-hand books on the shelves at their normal reasonable prices
So many cheap books! Plus snacks and sparkling counter repartée.
Saturday 2 November 2024 from 10am
Come along and get cosy at our beautiful bookstore after hours! We’ll provide endless tea, biscuits, comfy seating, and gentle atmospheric music so you can get into the reading groove. You’ll also have exclusive access to browse and buy from our shelves, as well as first dibs on our newest arrivals.
The bookstore will be open to ticket holders from 5pm to 8pm on Thursday 17th October. Come along any time during the reading party - late entrance is not a problem!
Where: The Open Book, 201 Ponsonby Road
When: Thursday 17 October 5–8pm
Tickets available from our website
Bookings are essential because spaces are limited!
26 Words respond to 26 Words from Page 26
26 Words New Zealand is a group of writers who write and respond to prompts using a tight format of, but not restricted to, 26 words, 260 words, or a Centana (100 word poem) - in this case 26 words from page 26 of a book selected by The Open Book.
This event will be a reading of the work resulting from this 26;26;26 exercise, and is a part of The Open Book’s on-going Ears Wide Open series, bringing poetry, music and local voices to the Ponsonby community, at no cost to you!
All are welcome! And, as usual, wine and snacks will be provided.
To learn more about 26 Words New Zealand, visit their UK’s counterpart website here: https://www.26.org.uk/
This October celebrate NZ Bookshop Day with us in the best way possible, by bookshop hopping! We've teamed up with 10 other bookstores in Auckland to create this fun Bookshop Tour for all you wonderful readers to explore.
You have 9 days - from Friday 4th October to Sunday 13th October - to visit as many of the participating bookshops as you can. Visit at least two participating bookshops (listed below) and collect a stamp on the map from each store to enter - no minimum spend necessary. Every additional stamp is an additional entry into the grand prize draw where 2 prizes of $300 book tokens are up for grabs!
Pick up and drop off your map at any of the stores below from Oct 4th:
- The Open Book - that's us! (Ponsonby)
- The Women's Bookshop (Ponsonby)
- Dorothy Butler Children's Bookshop (Ponsonby)
- Dear Reader (Grey Lynn)
- Unity Books Auckland (CBD)
- Time Out Bookstore (Mt Eden)
- Lamplight Books (Parnell)
- Onehunga Books & Stationery (Onehunga)
- Poppies (Howick)
- Paradox Books (Devonport)
- The Booklover Bookshop (Milford)
The Open Book is thrilled to welcome back Starling for the Issue 18 Tāmaki launch party at 3pm on Sunday 1 September!
We'll be celebrating the new issue with readings from several of its authors – come along and join us in hearing new work from young Aotearoa authors, and have a browse of the Open Book shelves while you're at it. We look forward to seeing you there!
Celebrate Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day at The Open Book! Come and try your hand at blackout poetry - we’ll provide the materials and instructions, all you need to bring is enthusiasm and creativity!
Quarterly clearance sale number 26, coming right up!
~1,500 clearance books - all $5 each or five for $15
Plus 10,000 other second-hand books at their normal reasonable prices
So many cheap books! Plus snacks and sparkling counter repartée.
Wander the rooms and worlds of The Open Book to the sweet sounds of Baroquers. Fiddling sisters Dr Kirsten Locke and Rachel Dasler, along with our regular Christmas carols host 'harpsichordist' Amy Mansfield and cellist Kate Saunders, accompany you by means of baroque sonatas and suites by Albinoni. Your music-filled browsing will be followed by readings and some mid-winter conviviality.
👂 This event is a part of our on-going Ears Wide Open series, bringing poetry, music and local voices to the Ponsonby community.
Well-known poetry maverick David Merritt is back in town this May! He'll be installed in our garage for three days creating poetry and making books out of reclaimed material for the masses and for you. The experience will wrap up on Sunday with a poetry reading at 3pm. Pop by to say hello and grab a unique book for yourself.
Our second clearance sale for the year is scheduled!
~1,500 clearance books - all $5 each or five for $15
Plus 10,000 other second-hand books at their normal reasonable prices
So many cheap books! Plus snacks and sparkling counter repartée.
Saturday 27 April 2024 from 10am
Join us for the Auckland launch of Starling magazine Issue 17!
Celebrate Takahe's latest online magazine and hear readings from some of their Tāmaki Makaurau contributors!
Anna and Sophie, Open Book escapees, read poems old and new!
Join us for this queer book meet-up with a twist! Bring along your favourite queer books to share with other readers in a mini show and tell or, if you’re more of a library fiend, bring along a list of titles. At the end, you’ll leave with a big list of new LGBTQIA+ titles to explore!
Mingle with the cool kids at the 2023 edition of The Open Book Christmas Party. BBQ, readings by artists who have graced our stage this year, a singalong, happiness, conversation, sunshine. Maybe Santa. Maybe not Santa.
Our final market for the year! Happening to coincide with the Ponsonby Christmas Market, you will be absolutely flush with choice when you visit Ponsonby on Saturday 2 December.
The Open Book Holiday Pop-up starts this week!
For the second time, a special pop-up is appearing at The Open Book. Between 24 November 2023 and 7 January 2024, we're hosting a curated selection of awesome bookish goods from Aotearoa-based businesses and creatives in our front room.
~ come along and be the first to experience new works in development by Leilani Tamu & Poata Alvie McKree
Help us launch this new fully te reo Māori youth fiction book into the world on Sunday! Roa Ltd has produced a creative re-telling of the history of Te Riri ki Waikato - The New Zealand Wars in Waikato with Mahuripounamu. This launch event is a family friendly affair. Bring your kids and young people to hear author Raukura Roa read part of Mahuripounamu, plus one of their previously published books for tamariki.
Held on the first Saturday of each month, our Backyard Markets are a celebration of small makers, creatives and businesses. At this small curated market, you’ll find a rotating calendar of talented stallholders that you won't want to miss! Our next market is on Saturday 3 June, 10am to 2pm.
Spring cleaning? No. Spring book buying?? Yes.
~1,500 clearance books - all $5 each or five for $15
Plus 10,000 other second-hand books at their normal reasonable prices
So many cheap books! Plus snacks and sparkling counter repartée.
Saturday 28 October from 10am
Held on the first Saturday of each month, our Backyard Markets are a celebration of small makers, creatives and businesses. At this small curated market, you’ll find a rotating calendar of talented stallholders that you won't want to miss! Our next market is on Saturday 3 June, 10am to 2pm.
Join us and Paula Morris (Associate Professor, English and Drama, and Director, Master of Creative Writing) at a reading of Hiwa: Contemporary Maori Short Stories. Colleen Maria Lenihan, Pamela Morrow and K.T. Harrison will share their stories with us.
Not one to miss - pencil it into your calendars ✏️🗓️
Choose to listen or join in as local poets take to the mic at The Open Book. This casual, welcoming open mic event is a chance for you to hear budding poets share their work, or to share your own.
Poetry making fun for all ages! Try your hand at black out poetry, a simple way of creating bespoke poetry using pages from a book or newspaper. The Open Book will have all the materials you need to get stuck in, including black markers and recycled book pages.
Held on the first Saturday of each month, our Backyard Markets are a celebration of small makers, creatives and businesses. At this small curated market, you’ll find a rotating calendar of talented stallholders that you won't want to miss! Our next market is on Saturday 3 June, 10am to 2pm.
Join Ockhams short-lister and award-winning filmmaker Michael Bennett in conversation with current Michael King Centre resident writer and Ockham poetry prize winner Helen Heath as they discuss writing across genres, solving mysteries and the craft of writing.
The mole dentist made his public debut in January, and now he’s back with a new group of friends…
Join us Sunday afternoon for words and music. Free drinks and snacks. Koha entry.
Fear not! Hunting for books at our quarterly clearance sale will keep you warm.
~1,500 clearance books - all $5 each or five for $15
Plus 10,000 other second-hand books at their normal reasonable prices
So many cheap books! Plus snacks and sparkling counter repartée.
Saturday 22 July from 10am
Held on the first Saturday of each month, our Backyard Markets are a celebration of small makers, creatives and businesses. At this small curated market, you’ll find a rotating calendar of talented stallholders that you won't want to miss! Our next market is on Saturday 3 June, 10am to 2pm.
