weekend in Vancouver

[shootingstar]

One more thing I forgot to ask about - used book stores! Last time we were in Van we hit a really good one - I forget the name but it was on a corner near Gastown, maybe MacLeod's books. We'll go back to it for sure. What other used book stores are worth a visit? The hubby's usually looking for sci-fi and I'm usually looking for music, canadian history, or books in German. Usually places that sell used university textbooks are good.

Downtown or Kitsilano area prefered, but we will go farther if there's a store that's worth it.

Since moving here to Vancouver from Toronto, I haven't familiarized myself with the used bookstores end much. But it would be fair to say that Vancouver has less selection of used books in different genres compared to Toronto (where toronto had dedicated bookstores on sci-fi, detective fiction before they went under...) I did work in a bookstore for almost a yr. in T.O. ...before I found my "real" jobs..

I think my book collection doesn't jive completely nor deeply with your interests...otherwise I would be happy to give away some books to you! Interested in travelogues? The closest Canadian history is on salmon fishing (hey it's important stuff where we are), biography of David Suzuki, history of Gulf Islands in artsy illustrated way, etc.

Vancouver has local chain bookstore which offers 20% discount off all their new titles --hardcover and softcover. Book Warehouse offers diverse selection.. There are 2 outlets in the downtown area....one of them not far from home.

For Canadian history, I think you will find the strongest, best selection on B.C. history of course....and aboriginal history. There are some real cool subjects in the latter area... Of course, realize that the smaller/local publishing presses would sell the books here and with discount you save money vs. special ordering from Alberta/Ontario...

This is what I look for whenever I travel in North America. when I visit a bookstore...the books published by the local /regional presses which are more difficult and maybe more expensive to order from another province/state/country.

As a long shot, send an reference question email to the Vancouver Public Library...their Central branch which the building looks like the Roman Coloseum.

I think the Goethe Institute teaches German..not sure if they have a bookstore.

[kat_h]

Good point about finding local books. Last time we were there I picked up the History of Music in BC (1850-1950).

I'm mostly looking for the used book stores that are bigger on the inside than on the outside. You know the sort of place that doesn't look like it will be much, then you get inside and keep going farther and farther back, through narrow halls and tiny rooms that are all piled floor to ceiling with books? Places that are made for browsing as much as finding. The ones the live up to Terry Pratchett's definition of L-space -

... even big collections of ordinary books distort space, as can readily be proved by anyone who has been around a really old-fashioned secondhand bookshop, one of those that look as though they were designed by M.C. Escher on a bad day and has more staircases than stories and those rows of shelves which end in little doors that are surely too small for a full-sized human to enter. The relevant equation is : Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good book really is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read.
Terry Pratchett : Guards, Guards, p 3

Thanks for the tip about the Goethe Institute. I studied at their school in Bonn for a winter a few years ago. If I do end up getting into UBC I may reconnect with their programs.