Memepunks Goes Bookcrossing!

This past weekend, your faithful editors of Memepunks took some time off from our hectic posting schedules to finally get out and feel what its like to bookcross. We here at Meme Station Zero are avid readers and stumbled across bookcrossing a few months back. The idea is simple. If you have a book you like, or don't like for that matter, register it at the bookcrossing site, label it appropriately, and then release it into the wild for other interested parties to pick up, read and then hopefully return the book to the free world for more sharing. Think Napster for books without the pesky XXAA lawsuits.

We thought long and hard about where to set free our first round of books. We eventually decided on scenic downtown Ann Arbor, Mi. There are a few reasons for this. The first is Ann Arbor has a fairly hip and intellectual demographic. We felt a strong chance that our books would land in the hands of an appreciative audience that would not only enjoy them, but would perhaps join the bookcrossing revolution. Second, there are many "3rd places" where people gather and interact that would make excellent seeding grounds. And finally, the city of Ann Arbor, and more directly the University of Michigan is playing host to one of the most ambitious and altruistic projects ever conceived in the digital era. Google print has set up shop at the University of Michigan (and other great libraries around the world) with one goal. The preservation by means of digitization all written texts. That's right, Google wants to scan, catalog, and integrate into their search engine every book ever published. How freakin cool is that?


First, we stopped in at the Ann Arbor Bus Depot (map). This close to the supposed "MotorCity" the Bus depot was a classically depressing experience. From the faded and shabby exterior, to the hollow and sparse interior, the place sorta creeped me out. But we felt it would be a great place to leave a good story for a weary traveler. We decided on Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke (more details). We casually placed the book on a chair, snapped a comemorative digital shot, and made for the exit. Our first release! It felt adventurous with an odd hint of danger for no good reason and we were hooked!

Second up was the Espresso Royale Caffe (map). A small out of the way independent coffee house right on Main street. The lounge was quiet for a Saturday morning, but there were several students and suited businessmen sipping and chatting. Here we left Vernor Vinge's A Fire Upon the Deep (more details). We didn't linger long here either, as we were still adjusting to this life of underworld book seeding. I think that slowly this was replaced with a child-like sense of immediacy that we HAD TO DO MORE!



We ventured further south on Main street and wandered into one of the dozen or so Starbucks (map) coffee houses littered throughout Ann Arbor. Here we sat and enjoyed a nice cup of coffee and discussed the rest of our adventure as we thought it should go. Perhaps it was the piercing blue eyes of our indie hot barrista, but we were inspired to leave a copy of Dune by Frank Herbert(more details). This time however, we embraced our actions. We stood triumphantly by our newest release, watching it like a parent does a child as they take those first tentative pedals away on their Christmas bicycle.

Next up was the amazing Vault of Midnight(map). This awesome pop culture marketplace takes us back to our childhoods every time we step across the threshold. Billed as a comic shop, this place offers so much more. From strange foreign imports to classic action figures and everything in between, this place is a "must see" for any geek, movie fan, or self proclaimed nerd. Looking for that latest issue of Spiderman? These guys have it. How about a complete set of Pulp Fiction playschoolesqe figures? What about a hard cover edition of Maus? Look no further. Here we left Neuromancer by William Gibson (more details) and spent way too much time getting lost in all the whuffie this place exudes.

Our next stop was set to be another Starbucks down the street, but we were waylaid by a free concert in Liberty Park. The fellas (and lady) from The Six Foot Poles were doing a benefit concert and had amassed quite a gathering. We stopped to enjoy the performance and realized this would be a perfect spot to set free another book from our dwindling collection. It was a wonderful sunny day and the park was shaded with a slight breeze blowing through. Had we not been so excited to finish our bookcrossing, this would have been an ideal spot to kick back, relax, read an excellent book and listen to some good music. We set free upon this small slice of heaven a copy of Mirrorshades: The Cyberpunk Anthology by Bruce Sterling (more details). Hell, our afternoon could have ended right here if given the right circumstances. A nap in the park felt like the only right answer to the "what's next" question. We still had two books to go though, and we weren't about to give up now!

The next release is a bit harder to explain. We were confident in our adventure so far and we stopped along Liberty street and sat at a small table against a mural of some fine authors and visionaries. There is a Potbelly Sandwich shop at the corner and I believe they maintain these tables, but they were far from the entrance and open to anyone. We decided under the giant head of Harry Houdini to release Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury(more details). Hopefully our book will escape its chains of bondage and find a new fan of this classic story.

Finally, we ended up back in a Starbucks (map). This one at the corner of State and Liberty. This is a monster store. Seating for dozens of coffee mavens and hard studying students. They have a great open sided fireplace as a center piece and even basement seating. Here we released our final book, Skeleton Crew by Stephen King(more details). A fine collection of his early short stories, Skeleton Crew was a fitting end to our adventures. Check out Survivor Type if you ever get to read it. It was the first story to ever give me full on nightmares and cold sweats.

So our first bookcrossing adventure came to a close, but it will not be forgotten. In a great city with a great personality we did our part to share some good reading with the world. From a surprise concert in the park and an indie film shoot (If anyone has any info on a small indie film named "Take 2" being filmed in and around Ann Arbor, PLEASE email us), to a long lost friend of Memepunks appearing out of the blue, it was a good day. Please check out bookcrossing and Ann Arbor if your ever in the area. Memepunks will be happy to show you around and let you buy us a beer or two!


"Nature and books belong to the eyes that see them." - Ralph Waldo Emerson