The Library's Lovely Views

A gorgeous view of Vancouver from the library's rooftop

This afternoon my friend and I went to a book talk at the Vancouver Public Library's central branch downtown and the event was located on the 8th floor.

We were in a hurry so we took the elevator and rushed into the small auditorium and when we sat down it just started. Phew!

Hulls (left) chatting with Jen Sookfong Lee

The book talk was presented by the author and artist Tessa Hulls, who wrote and drew a graphic novel called Feeding Ghosts that talked about the intergenerational trauma that her grandmother, mother and herself experienced due to Chinese history, with themes of immigration, Chinese culture, and filial piety.

I first met her in 2016 when she was in Hong Kong to research the book with her mother, and wrote about what Hulls was doing. I continued to follow her and the book's progress on Instagram until finally last year after seven years of research, traveling to Hong Kong and China, learning Mandarin and lots and lots of drawing and writing, she completed the book.

When the book was released, I interviewed her again, in awe of what she had accomplished in weaving together modern Chinese history and how this impacted her family, as well as analysing her relationships with her grandmother, mother and herself.

It's an intense, honest and emotional book sprinkled with a few funny scenes. Hulls remarked at the talk that she felt that she had appeased her ghosts and is glad the book is done and doesn't wish to look at it again.

Lovely open space to read and think

After the talk was over and we had our books signed and pictures taken, we wandered outside and saw there was another floor of the library -- with a small outdoor rooftop area!

Called the Phillips, Hager and North Garden, it's a nice quiet outdoor area with trees and shrubs planted. Looking south you can admire the view of BC Place and lots of condo buildings!

Reading the VPL website, people are allowed to bring food and drink on the rooftop, and no smoking allowed. Also, it cautions visitors not to take pictures of others unless given permission. Fair enough.

The other day the rooftop area was closed when they found a family of ducks there and staff waited for wildlife conservationists to come and collect them and relocate them elsewhere before allowing humans to use the rooftop again.

What a beautiful space along with the 8th and 9th floors! A nice place to escape to when near the library.

Vancouver Public Library (central branch)

350 West Georgia Street

Vancouver