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City of Glass
Douglas Coupland's Vancouver
Book - 2000
Eclectic and provocative, this book, designed to resemble a Japanese underground zine, looks at Vancouver from inside out, from the Grouse Grind to the shimmering glass towers, First Nations to feng-shui. Douglas Coupland takes on monster houses, weather, Sandra Bernhard, Love Boats, SkyTrain, fleece, that endless rivalry with Seattle, and even includes a short story about living in a low-rent Granville hotel. Over 100 archival photographs, maps, and "beauty shots" add to the fun in this witty survey by the noted chronicler of alternative culture.
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Publisher:
Vancouver : Douglas & McIntyre, 2000.
ISBN:
9781550548181
1550548182
1550548182
Branch Call Number:
971.133 COU
Characteristics:
152 p. : ill. (some col.)
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Add a CommentCoupland writes a very sweet, humourous and lovely book about this city. A perfect book for browsing, putting down and then picking up again later.
City of Glass reminds Vancouverites why we live here, and tells guests why they should visit. It is the book you leave in the guest bedroom to inspire and delight out-of-towners.
It's brochure like quality starts with the books physical form. City of Glass is bright and colorful'reminiscent of a sunny day in the city. Its cover is even colored in the omnipresent green and blue of Vancouver's branding.
The title of the book comes from Vancouver's large number of skyscrapers with glass or mirror fronts. Like the glass of it's title, Coupland's book reflects his personal memories of the city he loves.
Inspired by Japans underground 'zines', the book is an illustrated collection of vignettes and reflections on Vancouver. it takes readers on an alphabetical tour, from BC Ferries to YVR. Along the way, Coupland drops a lot of personal observations, historic trivia and often overlooked facts.
The book also includes a report of Coupland's essay, 'My Hotel Year,' previously published in Life After God. The essay is a nice intermission from the vignettes. It provides readers with a glimpse beyond the glass and into a gritty reality that is also part of Vancouver.
Interspersed throughout the book are some photographs of Vancouver at it's best and pictures of Vancouver, ephemera such as Campbell's soup cans with trilingual Cantonese/English/French labels and a salmon 'color fan.'