Hello, happy Monday and happy Auckland Writers Festival week. It's a good week for literary greatness. To kick off the week I'm back with a third installment of my bookish series that I share around these parts. As per usual we have an update on Oprah Sophie's Book Club, a digital recommendation, some things I've read and not discussed elsewhere and, for once, a very slim wishlist...

Book Club: Now for May and June I've selected two books to read and write up on. First we have The Cows* by Dawn O'Porter. Harper Collins very kindly sent me a copy (or two, more on that another time) but I was alway going to read and devour this regardless. I've set this one aside for May and haven't had much of a chance to read it yet. It is addicting and hilarious so far though. Next up we have Too Much and Not the Mood by Durga Chew-Bose which comes at the recommendation of Lena Dunham and Tavi Gevinson, among others. Side note: Tavi interviewed Durga for her ROOKIE podcast and it's worth a listen. I grabbed this when I was in Wellington last month and according to the blurb, Chew-Bose captures 'the inner restlessness that keeps her always on the brink of creative expression'. 

What Olivia Did: Some of you will probably know of Liv as a fashion and beauty extraordinaire but she also dabbles in the odd spot of book themed content. Today I am alerting you all to her channel because she does share the occasional book video and often a recommendation in her monthly favourites. Her Spring Reading List was particularly brilliant and had me jotting down names of the few books I had not read. We have similar taste apparently. You should also all subscribe to Liv because she is lovely and her videos are fantastic. She deserves so much more subscriber love.

Recently Read: / The Clothing of Books by Jhumpa Lahiri. I will be honest, this was on my to-read list but I also could not resist this cover. Look at it! This is a short but idea-laden translation of a speech Lahiri gave in 2015, initially in Italian. It explores the nuances of book covers and how for a writer, they mark the tangibility of ideas and the finality of work. It also talks about the disconnect between cover designer and writer, especially because a lot of the time that side of things isn't a collaborative process.  / The End by Lemony Snicket. So I finally finished my re-read of A Series of Unfortunate Events. It's only taken a few years. Anyway, I did not remember this book or how the series 'ended' as such at all. The Baudelaires and Olaf wash up on an island, where everything ends up eventually. It's home to a tribe of sorts and an almost cornucopia-like array of objects. It also contains many a reference to The Tempest by William Shakespeare. Namely the characters being named after those from the play but also other subtler anecdotes. I really enjoyed it and I'll be curious to see how it is adapted for Netflix eventually.  / Archival issues of Lula magazine. See visual aid. When a follower of mine on Twitter got in touch with me to say she had some Lulas to rehome, I had to grab the issues she had from the Leith Clark era. They have not disappointed either, although I am only reading the Sweet Sixteen issue right now. I want to make their magic last. Also read this for more Lula greatness.

/ Tavi photographed for The Coveteur, see the full story here

The Wishlist of Re-Reads: Instead of making a wishlist of books this month, I want to give mentions to books I hope to revisit soon. / An Extraordinary Theory of Objects by Stephanie Lacava. Objects and their associations+significance has always been something that fascinates me. I pore over what my friends and family display in their homes for this reason. With my eyes people, I'm not a world class sleuth. Lacava's writing explores much of that and the anxieties and feelings of relocating to Paris after a childhood spent in the United States. It's been a while since I read this, maybe three or four years back and it was only after stumbling upon an interview in one of the Lulas I was sent that I remembered I own it.  / The Secret History by Donna Tartt. Secret societies, universities that conjure images of the halls of the school in Dead Poets Society, flawed young men and women. Perfection in other words. I bought this on a whim and was mesmerised by it like everyone who read it before me. It's about time for a reread.  / The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. This book is one of my all time favourites so I tend to read it annually. At least once or twice actually. The way it is written as letters and the way it gets into the psyche of teenaged outsiderness without the romanticism is something I really relate to. As somebody who never felt like they fit in during high school and adolescence in general, this book is so comforting. 

A couple of weeks back I set off on a day trip to Wellington, partly because I like to escape on my own every so often and partly so I could check out the new Mecca Maxima. I was lucky enough to avoid the crazy line snaking around the block on Willis Street but it was pretty crowded inside. I'm not the hugest fan of crowds so I gravitated towards what I knew I wanted and made mental notes of what I'd look at online later. The store is huge and so spacious, despite the fact it was filled with people. All the beauty favourites are there although fans of Byredo and Diptyque, you'll have to find your luxe fragrances online now/in Auckland if you fancy a treat. Still there's plenty of other delights to keep even the most seasoned of beauty fans happy. Speaking of, here's what I nabbed on the day. My basket was considerably fuller and I did change my mind a couple of times but I've been using all these products religiously since I got back to Auckland so I have zero regrets...

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, mini size-Longtime readers will know this is my concealer of choice however for the longest time I've felt like Vanilla is just a bit too pale for me. When I saw they had minis of the shade Custard I had to get one. You know I already love this concealer and its skillfulness when it comes to concealing a multitude of complexion sins. Blemishes and redness, I'm looking at you. Custard really suits me a lot better so when I've run out of my current tube of Vanilla, I'll be heading for this instead.

Kevyn Aucoin The Volume Mascara-I've wanted to try Kevyn Aucoin's mascaras for a long time as I know they're incredibly popular. Also because Zoe Foster Blake recommended them and I have a bit of a girl crush on her. She knows her stuff people. This mascara contains lash fibres so it really lengthens and adds the drama. I already have quite long lashes but this takes things next level and I love the effect it gives. It's a tubing formula too which means it doesn't smudge or flake so it's great for those of you who find mascara goes everywhere. It isn't the cheapest but bold claim, it's easily one of the best mascaras I've tried in recent years.

Stila Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadow-My love for these shadows is also well documented around here and I had to get Bronzed Bell when I saw it. A little enabling from Morgan may have been to blame as well. Who am I kidding? It was all me folks. This bronze is shot through with silver reflects and looks stunning. I am still absolutely smitten with this formula. If you're a shimmer fiend, you need these in your life.

-Have you been to the new Mecca Maxima? What did you think of it?

I do love me a good eyeshadow palette. Firstly there's the convenience of all the shades you need in one handy place and then there's the array of colours and finishes. The best in my opinion combine standout mattes with some shimmer. There are definitely plenty of neutral palettes out there now but when I saw this Anastasia palette getting a lot of love from the likes of Louise and my friend Emma, I was officially interested. Flash forward a few months and it'd been in and out of my virtual cart a bit. So on a day where my heart was feeling heavy, I decided the Modern Renaissance palette needed to be in my life...

Now I feel like a bit of a mean girl because this palette seems to be out of stock again. It's proving to be an incredibly popular one, that is for sure. I am so glad I waited it out and got it though because it's fast becoming a firm favourite. Chances are, if you've asked me what eyeshadow I am wearing lately, it's more than likely a combination of these shadows.

What makes these shadows more exciting, for me at least, than your standard neutral palette is the addition of the berry tones and apricot-y mattes. Great descriptive language use there Sophie... You get the gist. There's only a smattering of shimmer which I don't mind because they are beautiful but it is the mattes that are the true stars here. They're insanely pigmented and I learnt that the hard way. See that brown shade on the top right hand corner? I went for far too much the first time and had to blend it right out. Even though these shades are pigmented they're super easy to blend out so you can dial up or down the intensity as desired. I've actually been loving the shade Realgar, bottom right, paired with Primavera. I find golden hued eyeshadows tend to not suit me, especially if they are too yellow but this combination works a treat. Do not be daunted by the colours here, they're a lot more workable than you might think.

The Modern Renaissance palette is definitely worth the love it's getting. If like me you don't own eyeshadows in these sort of hues, you'll love it and it will be a welcome addition to your makeup wardrobe. If you're looking for some other options, Morgan did a great post on eyeshadows similar to those found in this palette here. I've used the bronzier shadows in this photo but I'll try to take some more as I experiment with the other colours.

As far as I know, none of the Anastasia stockists in NZ sell this palette but you can find it on Sephora NZ as well of course as Cult Beauty.

-What do you think of Anastasia's Modern Renaissance palette?

In my not so humble opinion as a JAFA, that's just another fabulous Aucklander for anyone not in the know, the Auckland Writers Festival is a good time. As someone who likes reading you might think it'd be a sin for me to say otherwise. Truthfully though, I wouldn't be harping on about it now if I thought it was not worth anyone's time. This year they have one helluva lineup; Roxane Gay, Rupi Kaur, Chris Kraus, Ashleigh Young, Paul Beatty and more. Today I'm going to talk you through seven events I think you should know about, plus I have a very exciting lil' giveaway so stay tuned to the end of this post. 

Walk On High, free: One of the booksellers in Unity Books alerted me to this fun event taking place on High Street. From 6.30-8.00pm, a series of events will be happening. Insta-essays, poetry, theatre and games are just some of what can be expected. It sounds fun and like an unforgettable evening to explore the streets and get immersed in some unique experiences. 

Best of the Spoken Word, ticketed: Five of New Zealand's finest voices will come together to showcase their creative work, engage in a little improv. There'll even be a few guest appearances from the likes of Rupi Kaur, Paul Beatty and Ivan Coyote. If you are a poetry enthusiast then I imagine this one will be right up your alley. 

The Art of the Essay, free: As soon as I saw this event in the programme I was like 'yes please, I am there'. Roxane Gay+Ashleigh Young sharing their wisdom is enough to entice me. I don't think I need to say much more here. You get the gist.

Pop Up: Rupi Kaur, ticketed: I'm going to Milk and Honey, Kaur's Sunday session which has since sold out. Hence the addition of this new event. If you missed out the first time around, you cannot miss this one. Kaur is a voice to watch and I particularly loved milk and honey. In fact, I revisit it all the time. It's the kind of poetry that stays with you long after you've completed reading it.

The Book of Forgiving, ticketed: Mphu Tutu Van Furth co-wrote the aforementioned book with her father, Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Her session sounds fascinating and inspiring, as she'll be delving into her life and the place of forgiveness. I actually want to read this book now too so I'll be hunting that down in the local library. 

The Song of the Book, ticketed: Music lovers and lyricist enthusiasts, this one's for you. Four of our local songwriters were set the challenge of creating a piece of music, inspired by one of the books featured in this year's festival. As music is all about storytelling, this is the perfect marriage of creative mediums. 

Difficult Women, ticketed: When I heard that Roxane Gay was headed to Auckland for the Writers Festival, I knew I could not miss out. She's one of my favourite people on Twitter to follow and I love reading her writing whenever I get the opportunity, especially her op-eds. I cannot wait to hear her speak about her work and everything really. 

Now for the fun part, thanks to the lovely folk at Auckland Writers Festival*, I have a double-pass to Rupi Kaur's pop up event on Friday May 19th to give away. To enter, leave me a comment telling me what you're most looking forward to at the Writers Fest this year and feel free to use the additional entry options in the box below. Please note; you must be able to get to Auckland for this event and will have to collect your tickets from the box office. If you are under eighteen, please get permission from a parent or guardian before entering. 

This giveaway closes Tuesday 9th May. Good luck!