#MicroblogMondays 85: Literary Geocaching
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I’ve been debating whether or not to start The Silent History. Is anyone else reading it?
It’s a novel that is written for the iPhone, and as you travel around, you unlock parts of the story based on your GPS coordinates. Actually, I think you can read the main chunk of the story from any space, but then there are hundreds of side stories that can only be unlocked from certain locations. It has been around for a while, and I’ve looked at it a dozen times without downloading it.
I sort of like this idea of needing to travel somewhere to read part of the story, with the location affecting how you read the words on the screen. And I sort of don’t like this idea of getting off my bum and traveling somewhere for the sake of reading.
What do you think? Yay or nay on this idea of literary geocaching and only getting to read a story from a certain location?
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22 comments
I have never heard of this! What an interesting concept. I don’t think I’ll be reading, though. I want to be able to read the whole store even if I can’t manage to make it all around the world.
Actually, I changed my mind after going to the site linked above and reading more! I do want to read it. Apparently the main story (120 testimonials) is available completely and you can add more to that by reading individual field notes. I love this idea now and can totally see how being in a specific location while you read something would immensely enhance the experience, almost like being in the story. Very, very cool.
It sounds cool, at first I was figuring this would be a US-only kind of thing so I wouldn’t be able to check it out but as it turns out there are locations outside the US so that’s pretty neat!
The first I am hearing of it. Sounds intriguing. I love travel, except that I don’t get to travel as much as I would like 🙂
Love any geo-location game! Definitely going to check this out. Sounds like a less-linear version of THE WALK.
I love the idea, however I wonder if I’d be able to take advantage of the geolocation aspect of the story? Not just because it would surprise me if there were spots for it in Tasmania, but pathetically because I barely am able to get normal geocaching done lately.
Sounds interesting…actually I’m hearing about this for the first time !
Wow that sounds amazing. I am going to check it out and am headed out of town soon so hopefully will unlock interesting stories. Thinking it would make travel more interesting for kids too …
Definitely yay- that sounds like so much fun! I’m going to look it right now- how have I not heard of this before!
I think a kids version would be a fantastic idea too- my daughter would love it, and it might motivate her to get out there and experience new things (even if she does still have an electronic device in her hand!).
An interesting idea and concept. Not something I would want to do.
It sounds very interesting. Sounds like something good to do on staycation. Otherwise, I think I might just not have enough patience to go to many places to finish up the book.
Thanks for telling us about this Mel! What a cool “gimmick”! Are these all places far apart from each other? Is this something you can only do when you really have a lot of time to travel all over? I will say that when I was in college, I saw one of my favorite movies: Hitchcock’s “Rear Window” at an old revival movie theater in Greenwich Village in NYC where the movie is set. It was amazing to feel like I was right there where it was all taking place.
Huh, what an interesting idea! How about I try it and get back to you?
This is really interesting. I have never heard of this before. My first thought was I wonder if it would make me feel down for all the story I would miss because I’m unable to travel very far from home. It is definitely something I am interested in learning more about, for sure.
I don’t own a smartphone, but I imagine that locale-based content would be intriguing. Of course, I can’t remember the last time I traveled any distance so I don’t think I would end up with the bonus material.
I hadn’t heard about this! Fascinating! Do you know ahead of time what locations you’ll need to go to?
Also, just realized I wasnt thinking and posted the wrong link on Mr. Linky the first time. Whoops. I reposted with the direct link, so you can just delete the first one. Sorry about that!
Ugh – I wrote a comment, and the page froze. Apologies if this appears twice.
While I love the concept of the side stories, I think I’d need to be in the right frame of mind to go suss them out. The idea of bumping into someone else reading the same thing (which I’m guessing, at this point, is a low statistical probability) alternately intrigues me and fill my reclusive side with terror.
Thanks for pointing this out, Mel!
It’s a great idea but I guess it would depend on where you would have to travel, etc. As someone with limited financial means as much as I would love the travel all over America and experience something like that it just wouldn’t be possible with a full time job, finances, etc.
I like the idea of it if it were local. Possible in the same state. Places I could drive and explore that maybe I wouldn’t have in any other case. That would be possible and I love that idea.
I don’t have a smartphone or an iPad or any of that. I also do not gt out and move around much anymore.
Read the book, however, and enjoyed it very much. The characters are well done and the concept of such a change to our lives was very thought provoking. It is well written.
I’ve never heard of The Secret History…it sounds like a really cool concept, but I’m not sure it would be for me. I like the idea of traveling to unlock stories, but fear I would probably lose interest in between trips or resent my book for making me do something. Neat idea, though!
What an amazing idea! Not sure that I would have the staying power to get very far with it, but it does demonstrate the possibilities of the new technologies.
I was worried about the battery life on my iPad this week, so I called Apple and some kind guy, on another continent, on being given the serial number, found my iPad and checked the battery level for me.
“Wow! “I said. “That’s amazing! Scary, but amazing!”