On the eve of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, publishing houses are crossing their fingers that books about the host city will fly of the shelves as souvenirs, guides and walks down memory lane.

For an urban centre, Vancouver is a bit of a light-weight. With a population of just over 600,000 (its greater area being over 2 million), it falls far behind the metropolises found in most of the rest of the world. Between its size and its young age of 124 years, it's easy to scoff at the suggestion that Vancouver's history and culture could possibly make an interesting story. Historically speaking, the extent of a Vancouver-themed book collection would include coffee-table books showcasing the ocean, mountains and trees, a few Arthur Erickson buildings, Douglas Coupland, Emily Carr paintings, totem poles and that sparkly science ball. But that is a bit Expo '86.

Fortunately, twenty-four years after the city's first international fair, Vancouver has a little more to offer. Two read-worthy Vancouver books released in the last few months include Drinking Vancouver by John Lee and Vancouver Special by Charles Demers.

Lee, an English-born Vancouverite, roams the world writing for Lonely Planet. For this book on his adopted hometown, Lee had the arduous task of hopping from bar to pub, wracking up "expenses" in the name of research. The result - a red and white 150-page guide to "100+ Great Bars in the City and Beyond". Broken down by neighbourhood, each listing receives a full-page account of its drink selection, atmosphere, history and grub. Interestingly, it's Vancouver's first drinking guide; a book to elevate our international social status.

Locals well-versed in the act of sniffing out libations will likely be unsurprised with Drinking Vancouver's line-up and may in fact be disappointed by the lack of uncovered "secrets", but in a city this size, it's hard not to know of every nook and cranny. Even still, it's a great book to have on hand to refresh and inspire a change in routine night-scene. For all those Olympians coming to town for the month of February, it's a must-have. Warning - its overdone use of the word "tipple" may be cause for drunken giggles.

Vancouver Special (see our review here) is more of love-hate nostalgic examination of the city and its outer lying areas by thirty-something Charles Demers, local comedian, performer and activist heard on CBC Radio One's The Debaters. Considering himself one of the few authentic (born and raised) Vancouverites left in this city, Demers pokes fun at, chides and reprimands the city he loves as only a comic can do.

Chapters are broken down into neighbourhoods (Little India, the Suburbs), people (First Nations, Police, Rich People) and culture (Pot, Dogs, Vanarchism) interlaced with black and white photography and quotes borrowed from local funny people. Written with obvious personal opinion, judgment and love, Vancouver Special will incite laughter, anger and many uh-huh's from its readers.

Vancouver Special is full of facts and historic events that add an educational element for the home crowd. For the visiting team, it is a real, unpolished look at a city whose exposed underbelly is being shrouded by a committee of Olympic magicians hoping for a snow-globe perfect Vancouver.

Both books can be found in stores throughout the city.

Photo by Carson Ting on Flickr