Books for public space lovers to give and receive

Hark, what’s that earth-shaking cacophany echoing past yonder half-finished condo developments and through the halls of municipal committee meetings? Public space friends, ’tis the bell of a mighty consumerist sleigh. And ask not for whom this last-minute-shopping jingle bell tolleth – it tolls, almost certainly, for thee. And, erm, me. Dang!
Fortunately, many good and informative and helpful tomes exist for city lovers (and lovers of city lovers) to give and receive in short time. With Hannukah in full force and only 7 days ’til Xmas Eve, let the following suggestions fasttrack you to the 401 of flaneur-flavoured holiday book-giving bliss:

For the amateur geographer and itinerant intellectual:

• Else/Where: Mapping New Cartographies of Networks and Territories edited by Janet Abrams and Peter Hall (University of Minnesota Design Institute): A remarkable anthology self-reflexively mapping mapping in the new millennium.
• Metropolitan World Atlas (010 Publishers): A standout in the field of comparative urban mapping with deservedly award-winning design.
• College Street/Little Italy: Toronto’s Renaissance Strip by Denis De Klerck and Corrado Paina (Mansfield Press): A beautiful tribute to, history of and analysis of a popular Toronto street and the nabe that cradles it.
• The Architecture of Happiness by Alain de Botton (McLelland & Stewart): A meditation on how buildings and spaces shape our values, hopes and temperament.

For the gallery haunter and graffiti admirer:

• The State of the Arts: Living With Culture in Toronto edited by Alana Wilcox, Christina Palassio and Jonny Dovercourt (Coach House): The second anthology in the UTOpia series investigates our arts scene from diverse perspectives, including views from several Spacing contributors.
• Toronto by Geoffrey James (Douglas & McIntyre): The T-dot as seen through the eyes of a terrific black-and-white photographer.
• Graffiti Women: Street Art from Five Continents by Nicholas Ganz (Abrams): Ladies in graffiti get props at last from Ganz, author of the immensely popular Graffiti World.
• Faces on Places: A Grotesque Tour of Toronto by Terry Murray (Anansi): Imagine tagging using stonecarving equipment and you’ve got yourself a gargoyle. Word.

For the transit aficionado and infrastructure fetishist:

• Toilets of the World by Morna E. Gregory and Sian James (Merrell): Just what it sounds like; and you thought the Union Station loos left something to be desired?
• Inside Toronto: Urban Interiors 1880s to 1920s by Sally Gibson (Cormorant): A special treat for the local-history buff; a photographic compedium of swimming pools, city council chambers and living rooms from a bygone era.
• Infrastructure: A Field Guide to the Industrial Landscape by Brian Hayes (Norton): Our creative director won’t relinquish his hold on this incredibly detailed and well-illustrated tome. ‘Nuff said.
• The Works: Anatomy of a City by Kate Ascher (Penguin): Terrific illustrations and diagrams show the web of infrastructures behind the NYC megalopolis.

For the library lingerer and word wonderer:

• Consolation by Michael Redhill (Random House): The stories of a present-day forensic geologist and a 19th-century photographer entwine in the streets and archives of Toronto.
• The City Man by Howard Akler (Coach House): A look back at Toronto in the dirty 30s through the eyes of a harried reporter and a resourceful pickpocket.
• What We All Long For by Dionne Brand (Vintage): The winner of this year’s Toronto Book Award traces the lives of three T.O. hipsters as they search for love and life.
• Last Stop Sunnyside by Pat Capponi (Harper Collins): Eccentric (and believable) amateur PIs roam Parkdale to find a rooming-house friend’s killer.

There’s likely a lot more out there than these titles, including some very rad archival finds in secondhand bookstores. Hopefully this gets you started on a very happy last-minute city book hunt!