Reading Response - Book Report/Review Example

READING RESPONSE [Insert al Affiliation] Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Marmaid” depicts the beauty of nature. The language used inappealing and interesting to read as the story unfolds and the author’s imaginations become evident. Through the use of vivid description, one can easily see how the mermaid missed life on earth, “Nothing gave her pleasure than to hear about world of human beings above” (p.2). Apparently, the author depicts social interaction and its importance in the 20th century through the portrayal of “five sisters interlacing their arms” when rising above the waters together (p. 5). The aspect of social interaction and immortality are portrayed handily, but author fails to explicate why the little mermaid desires to be a human being just for a day.

Apparently, reading the book, one realizes the beauty of nature that humanity seems to have torpedoed through their egocentric actions, actions which are merely meant to benefit humanity while disadvantaging other creations. While the story captures the reader’s attention all through due to the familiarity of aspects involved, the author needs to explicate why the mermaids believe that every cry from a sad child will only provoke God to add years onto their probation. This will ostensibly indicate its relevance in the current fairly advanced society.

The egocentric nature of human beings is further portrayed in the other stories. For instance, the emperor would spend so much just to get good clothes. Similarly, the beauty of nature is also evident in “The Ugly Duckling” where the author states “Round about field and meadow lay great woods, in the midst of which were deep lakes” (p. 42). Apparently, this can be perceived as a mere nostalgia and what stands out from the novel is that humanity has failed in its role of protecting the environment.

It is a wake-up call for everybody to start acting more responsibly towards nature. Similarly, while Selma Lagerlöf’s narration was essentially meant for children, it serves a great importance in an adult audience. Nils is a 14 year old lad who is best in eating, sleeping and causing mischief. The author’s interest in surveying the world is portrayed throughout the narration, a factor that makes the story even more interesting to read. The villainous depiction of the natural world of Sweden in terms of the environment from north to south, animals and the kind of life that they leave whisks me to a different world.

However, it is still contentious why the young lad enjoys causing mischief and the author’s intention in writing the book remains dubious. Is it a call to reconsider the beautiful natural sceneries? Was it meant to portray the importance of animals in human life? However, considering its time of publication, I believe the author was portraying the gullibility of Swedish kids in an effort to make future generations appreciate the importance of civilization and globalization while still confronting the negativities that such developments have brought to a hardly unsuspecting population.

What’s more, the author’s description of a young bucolic man in Stockholm who feels lonely and estranged was deliberately included as a way of supporting the socialism notion that was common in Sweden. It was hence a way of appraising the ideas that were selfishly championed for by the political class. The author’s imagination is seems so sardonic especially in the current world where animal care is given little prominence.