An interview with Sorensen Books : Your Vancouver Island Bookshop

Biblio checks in with Sorensen Books : Your Vancouver Island Bookshop to learn more about their book business, collecting interests and more! To view and shop their inventory, click here.

When did you get started in bookselling?

I started selling books in 1990 while working for two bookshops in Kelowna BC Canada. The Book Bin and The Okanagan Bookman.

What drew you to bookselling?

I was a student at the time and it was a great summer job to be around books it just continued on from there.

Did you have any mentors in becoming a bookseller?

Yes for certain Bob Ross in Kelowna of the Okanagan Bookman. From there I went on to work and manage Wells Books where I learned a lot about the business as we were one of the first shops online.

What are your specialties as a dealer?

I deal in mainly history relating to Art, Vintage postcards, Military, transport and local interest. I prefer to buy academic libraries.

What's the most amazing book you've ever sold?

A first edition of Redoute's Les Roses.

What is your favorite part of being a bookseller?

That everyday in an open shop you never know what exciting book, photo, postcard or document will be brought through your door. You never stop learning and searching.

Do you have an open storefront or have you in the past?

Yes we have a storefront. We have just moved into a new building on View street.

If so, do/did you have any bookstore pets?

I wish! But our door is often open and I would be afraid they’d run onto the busy road. We sponsor a cat named Torrie and two other cats who are all in foster care. The bookshop raises money each month fortheir care from donations and from our sale cart outside the shop.

What is the funniest / strangest / scariest thing that ever happened in your store?

Seagull walking in the front shop slowly making his way through past my desk and casually walking out the back door.

What is your favorite bookshop (other than your own)?

In Victoria? I would say Munro & Ivy’s for new books and for second hand I would say both Cavity and Bastion Books have a great selection. In Vancouver Pulp Fiction and The Paperhound.

What do you personally like to read? Collect?

Mysteries, travel essays and history to read but to collect I collect Dryad Press - a craft press and a few other things.