Of Spectacled Bears and Señor Free

As grouched about in the last post, I wanted to sit somewhere peacefully (not home, since current home is a little depressing) and read a book. Obviously, since I had left home with just umbrella in tow (the monsoon is in full swing in Bombay) it meant finding a book first.

Which meant wandering around the British Library aimlessly for a bit. And out of some sort of obligation I had to glance at the shelves holding the biology textbooks. Slight shock to see a colourful hardback, the author one Stephen Fry. I picked the book off the shelf immediately.

Rescuing the Spectacled Bear seemed interesting, so I borrowed it and left. Hours later at night, I was still reading it. The spectacled bear (so named for the yellow markings around and on its face) is a bear native to South America. Yep. There are bears in South America. Stephen Fry (or Señor Free as the Peruvians called him) was drafted into being the narrator/presenter for a program on them. This book was the journal he maintained the few weeks they were in Peru and Chile. Filled with beautiful still photos and great (and hilarious) writing that I always expect from Stephen Fry, I loved the book. The proceeds from this book go towards a foundation to help found a reserve for the spectacled bears in Peru. What are you waiting for? Go buy the book! 🙂