Rescuing the Spectacled Bear

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Stephen Fry

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Pages: 208 (Hardcover)

ISBN: 0091795230

Pub: Hutchinson

Pub date: 2002-10-03

Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 77412

Editorial Review:

There are those who have accused Stephen Fry of spreading his many talents too thinly. Rescuing the Spectacled Bear reminds us that it's possible to argue that he's at his best as a writer. It's a funny and moving diary of his bid to rescue Peru's endangered Spectacled Bears and altogether a delight. Earlier in 2002, BBC 1 broadcast a programme about Fry's visit to Peru to track Paddington Bear's roots and (more seriously) to rescue a Spectacled Bear, one of the world's endangered species. Later, Fry and his team went back and helped rescue a mate for the bear they had found on their first trip. Fry is clearly keen to draw the world's attention to these bears and this engaging diary of his time in Peru is both funny and committed. Will Fry become the Diane Fossey of the bear world?

The full colour, full-page illustrations are a particular delight and perfectly complement the author's whimsical word pictures of the Spectacled Bears. And there's even a bonus in the shape of some very funny jacket notes, comparing (item by item) the Spectacled Bear and Stephen Fry in terms of size, appearance and habitat, not to mention sexual habits. Of the bears: "Mating occurs in April, May and June and couples stay together for a week or two, with copulation occurring numerous times." Of Stephen Fry: "Subject of much speculation among scholars and gossip mongers. The mating ritual, which is remarkably noisy, lasts fourteen and a half years and makes a great deal of mess." --Barry Forshaw

Reader Reviews:

buy the book help the bears (11/11 people found this helpful)

the proceeds of rescuing the spectacled bear are plowed into the charity in which mr fry is involved to help do exactly that, which should deserve another star admittedly, but the books just a liitle on the short side.
The writing is excellent as one would expect from stephen fry, and his frankness honesty and devilish humour shine through, easy to settle into but alas his trip is over all too quickly, the real joy comes from reading his honest accounts of the discomforts involved and he is very honest about his participation in the film project which was another aspect of this project.
it is very interesting to read his thoughts on peru and briefly chile, but what a treat it would have been to have that extended to the whole of south america and over a longer time.
Most amusingly we also are related the various woes encountered with laptops ipods transport and more importantly corruption.
a worthy and highly readable insight.

To be applauded (if not enjoyed) (7/12 people found this helpful)

I'll be honest: I would buy anything that Stephen Fry wrote. Moreover, I'd probably enjoy it more than anything that most other authors wrote. So I was disappointed that with "Rescuing the Spectacled Bear" I got none of that squirmingly over-excited, finger-wriggling joy that I usually get from the masterful Fry.
Instead of the comic brilliance and linguistic flair that characterise his other work, this is a fairly flat record of time spent in Peru in a wholly laudable attempt to...well... rescue a Spectacled Bear, with only very rare flashes of Fry's charm and humour breaking the surface.
You should buy this book to support the cause for which it's written (to which Fry is donating his royalties) or if you are a completist of the genius's work, but for real enjoyment, I'd look alsewhere: specifically The Liar or Moab is My Washpot, both of which rock.

Rescuing the Spectacled Bear (8/9 people found this helpful)

This book is the accompanying volume to the television programme shown last year. Although I didn't watch the programme myself people have commented on how good it was. I thought that perhaps the next best thing would be to read Stephen's book. I wasn't the least bit dissapointed. I received the book in the post this morning, and it has not been out of my hands since! Not only was I treated to information - not all good - about the bears, but Stephen Fry made me laugh as well.
I would definately recommend this book to anyone with an interest in bears, or nature in general. Or even just if you like Stephen - he always shines through in his writing, whatever the subject matter.
All in all, a fantastic, entertaining read - one I shall be enjoying again and again.

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