For the bookworms and the sloth lovers!
Today we celebrate books! April 23rd is International Book Day, in honor of two of the most important writers in history: William Shakespeare and Miguel de Cervantes.
Here at SloCo, many of us are proud bookworms. As scientists and conservationists, reading is also part of our daily routine. Not only scientific publications or academic books, but also fiction helps us understand the socio-political nuances of the region we live in, because after all, conservation is about people and community.
Understanding the Caribbean
A Costa Rican author we really like is Anacristina Rossi, born in San José in 1952. She is a novelist and a political activist, especially regarding environmental issues.
Limón Blues follows Orlandus, a Jamaican migrant in early 20th-century Limón, Costa Rica, as he navigates love, politics, and identity in a society shaped by colonialism and diaspora. Through encounters with Marcus Garvey, the novel explores the struggles of Afro-Caribbean communities. It vividly depicts the complex history, cultural richness, and social tensions of Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast.
La Loca del Gandoca (The madwoman of Gandoca, also by Anacristina Rossi, is a passionate environmental novel based on real events. It tells the story of a woman who fights to protect the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast from illegal development and corruption. A powerful tale of activism, resilience, and the high cost of defending nature. The character of Daniela walks in circles through a bureaucratic maze designed to frustrate and wear you down, and we’re not gonna lie, sometimes in real life, it feels just like that.
Both of these books are important to understand the area where we work and the many communities that live in it. Without a deep understanding of the people we work with, conservation is not possible.
Sloth Books
A book that directly supports our mission is Sloths: Life in the Slow Lane by Dr. Rebecca Cliffe and Suzi Eszterhas. This glossy coffee table book is the perfect gift for any sloth lover. And the best part? Part of the proceeds fund our research and conservation projects.
Get your copy here!
If you’re looking for a kids’ option, check out The Adventures of Doctor Sloth. It follows our founder and executive director, Dr. Rebecca Cliffe, on an inspiring journey for children about sloths, nature, science, and conservation.
Get Your Copy Here
Thank you once again for reading this far, and I hope this blog inspires your next read!
