Book Review Grow Up Messy! by Kala Ravi Sarathy

The post first appeared on

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1889117796?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

A delightful, heart-warming book that traces the journey of an impish little girl, Misry aka Messy. The stories are set in eastern India and carry a waft of the rural, simple life of an era gone by. Misry is impetuous, curious and often rebellious and one cannot help but fall in love with this adorable child’s antics. The parents have been essayed so realistically, one can readily identify with their dismay, tenderness, annoyance and more in response to their little daughter’s ventures. The language is fluid and the plots are quintessential to an East-Indian setting from the 1980’s. The character portrayals, the vivid narration, the peek into traditional rituals and customs, the overall earthiness and thought-provoking little adventures of little Messy make for a lovely read suitable for both young children and parents. A light-read that makes you go warm, fuzzy and nostalgic!

How much transparency is needed for our Armed forces?

The post first appeared on

http://www.ddsreviews.in/2017/01/Transperency-Armed-Forces.html?spref=fb

#SpecialFeature :: #GuestPost – How much transparency is needed for our Armed forces? by Paromita Goswami

When I wrote the book Grow Up Messy! I mentioned in details about the life of personnel working in Border Security Force. My chest always swells with pride whenever I read the scenes in the book. My father worked in B.S.F and hence I was brought up in that environment. It really helped me in shaping me up as a responsible citizen of my country. I have a special corner in my heart for the people in the armed forces. There was a time when I too wanted to join the uniform cadets however, I was destined to do something else. We will talk about it later.

The recent video of a B.S.F jawan that went viral on the internet and that which has really shaken the faith in the olive and khaki uniforms has really hurt me too. The video was about the quality of the cooked meal supplied to the Jawans at the border. It showed burned Rotis, Dal, without Tadka and all. And in my book, I have a complete chapter how Misry loved the Langar ka Tadka Dal.

Here is the excerpt:

Misry relished food prepared in the langar. First, the food had a manly touch unlike her mother cooking at home, which meant more oil, more spices and “Tadka”. And second, the food was cooked in huge chulha unlike the L.P.G gas cylinder at home and so the food had a different aroma and taste to it.

The Jawans had a special liking for Misry. Her presence and innocent questions reminded them of their children back at home, whom they missed very much. They loved to have her around and treated her like one of their children.

One of the cooks had also made a small bench and table for her to sit and eat with the rest of the platoon. The Head Cook knew about Misry’s love for langar food so he separated a small portion for her and added his special spices to it.

If I have to believe this video then I must say it was never so bad earlier. However, I understand things have changed over the years. The Jawans might be too stressed out defending the peace for our country just as we do while meeting our deadlines. Has life really changed so much? In the Video, Teg Bahadur has blamed his senior officers for selling off the ration that is distributed to them by the government. Can this really happen? Can someone even think of making money in this manner? If it were true then can that person be really termed as a patriot serving the armed forces to serve the nation? I don’t think so.  Such traitors need not be in any armed forces.

Every officer has a big responsibly of motivating his men so that they remain stress-free while standing in the first line of defense.  Every grudge of a Jawan,  no matter how small it maybe, is first dealt with these officers. It is his duty to see that his men are well taken care of unless of course, he is a victim of this bad practice too.

Not all officers are corrupt but those who are, they are really putting the lives of civilians at a big risk. And eventually the security of the country. I have only one question for them –What good is your money earned by corrupt means if the nation does not survive. Of course, India is very strong for this handful of corrupt people for we are the people of the country that has a big history of legends and no one can shake that trust off us be it money or fame.

However,  I do feel there should be more transparency in our armed forces too. With the growing technology, everything is visible now like this viral video. So why not make our procuring system and recruitment in the armed forces more transparent. Let the Jawans know how well they are being treated.

Another Video is of a CRPF Jawan who questions the facilities enjoyed by the paramilitary and the Central Armed police Force. When the risk is same then why not the facility. Let the parameters for selection be the same in both the forces. Earlier, when the Central Armed Police Force was established its main duty of line was restricted to only certain areas just like the B.S.F.

After Chinese aggression in 1962 in India B.S.F was established on 1st December 1965, to safeguard the international land and water borders of the country only. However, over the years their line of duty has changed. The B.S.F personnel is now doing all kinds of other duties besides guarding the international border. So why have their facilities not changed?

My book Grow Up Messy! is dedicated to BSF fathers who crave to watch their child grow.

No child would love to see their father so much in pain due to food condition or due to the lack of facilities. It is at a time when the men working in the forces should be heard.

P.S  To enter the #Giveaway please follow the above mentioned link.

Book Review Grow Up Messy! by Siddhangana Karmakar

The review first appeared on

http://siddhanganak.blogspot.in/

I won’t say I don’t read children’s books. If I chance upon a good children’s fiction I dive right into it, simply because I find them richer in imagination.

Growing Up Messy is a heart warming story which reminded me parts of my childhood having born and brought up in a 2nd tier city of Bengal. Misry’s escapades during afternoon hours truly made me connect with her. How many afternoons I must have spent doing the same! How much patience my mother would have shown to tolerate my disobedience.

Right from the character Misry to the descriptions of the world around her and the innocent naughty acts that Misry aka Messy got into reminded me of Tagore’s short stories as well.

I think it fits a much wider range of readers apart from middle grade. It can be a good read for mothers because it captures psychology of children and I personally feel it also sets standards for the modern parent. Things like not over indulging your child, making your kid realise the difference between want and need. The very busy parents of today who have high purchasing ability sometimes forget that indulgence is not always the answer. A story like this can be a gentle reminder to them while they read it out as a bedtime story for the young ones.

Book Review Grow Up Messy! by Mahima

This post first appeared in

https://incorrigiblemusings.wordpress.com/2017/01/18/grow-up-messy/

The Review:

 

Grow Up Messy is a story of a 5-year-old girl Misry who is called as Messy by everyone because of the mess she creates. Misry father has a job which makes him change cities frequently.

The story is from the point of view of Messy which shows her innocence and guile. Messy is a ball of anxiousness and excitement which causes a ruckus and hence she got coined as Messy.

Throughout the story it is cute and sweet moments of a mother-daughter relationship in which makes the read more enjoyable. Apart from the adventures of Messy, the story depicts the day to day lives and sacrifices of army personnel and their families.

A book worth reading as it gets you to take a trip down the memory lane to your childhood which we often forget when as we get old.

 

Book Review Grow Up Messy! by Author Devika Fernando

As posted in Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33089831-grow-up-messy

I don’t often read children’s books, but off and on, I’ll make an exception for a friend. And I’m glad I gave “Grow Up Messy” a chance, because it is a delightful read that manages to capture an adult’s attention and even heart just as easily as a child’s.

The story follows five-year-old Misry alias Messy through her life, giving us glimpses of her daily routine and the family dynamics as well as offering startling and sparkling surprises of a child’s mind. The author manages to make the book entertaining and light-hearted with a tinge of humor on the one hand, and thought-provoking on the other hand. Through the stories with a moral (and with their apt end that fits right in with the title) we learn about society and how it should and should not treat children. We are immersed in how India deals with education and social norms, in what is expected of good little girls, and how far a little imagination can take a child. Misry is adorable and spunky, and I grew to love her mother too. The descriptions make the setting and characters come alive, and there is just the right amount of realistic dialogue.

“Grow Up Messy” would make a lovely read for a mother or even to read out loud to a child in a similar age. I can even imagine some of the chapters being valuable for teaching in schools.
(less)

 

The inspiration behind my new book Grow Up Messy!

This post originally appeared at

http://www.ddsreviews.in/2017/01/inspiration-behind-grow-up-messy.html?

What is the inspiration behind my new book Grow Up Messy!?

I always find my ten years old enjoying the cartoon programs on the television channels. Sometimes I also sit down next to him to watch the show. It is so good to watch him so excited especially when the cartoon characters are out on an adventure. My son would be fidgeting or squealing along with the background music. I wondered what was so special about these stories –  Chota Bheem running in the forest looking for his friends who are abducted or Nobita again stuck up somewhere with Doraemon’s gadgets or Motu and Patlu flying up in the air when kicked by the boxer. If that was not enough there is the Ben10 using all sorts of gadgets to save the alien attack.

No matter what the plot was the children enjoyed it and are glued in front of the television set for hours at stretch. And it is not at all good for their health. It is a very common site to find a very young child in specs due to eyesight problem these days. However, it was a very rare sight a few decades back. Even children sitting indoors at home was a rare sight.

Most of our childhood days were spent outdoors having fun with friends. And even today they are our best memories. There was so much we could do and so much we could see and learn from experience.

However, as parents now, we hardly allow our children to learn from their experience. We are always telling them what is right and what is wrong and on top of that, they have a limited time to do what they actually want to do, play.  Homework, tuitions, curricular activities, swimming session, dance session, karate classes the list is endless. By the end of the day, the child is completely tired, of course with physical exertion, however not because the child had been doing what he or she wanted to do but what we wanted him or her to do.

This is mostly due to two reasons, FEAR and QUALITY TIME. We fear our child will lag behind in the rat race and hence we start equipping the child from an early stage putting in so much pressure on the little mind that they forget what they really want to do. They start looking at us for the next instruction eventually growing up into an adult who is unable to make decisions or take its responsibility. As parents, we are so busy with our career that even though we might be physically present with the child yet our mind wanders elsewhere. We fail to give the quality time. And even if we do, we restrict it to weekends or other holidays not when the child needs it most, when he gets up from sleep, when he comes back from school and when he is put to bed.

In my book, Grow Up Messy! the protagonist, Misry alias Messy, is a naughty five-year-old and she does all that she wants to do. Sometimes it is right sometimes it is wrong but whatever the end result is, she experiences it firsthand. And astonishingly these small experiences actually shape her up as she grows. Each of the chapters is like small stories interwoven which any parent can enjoy reading with their child. It is more like an adult reliving the childhood and sharing with the child. Set in the early eighties West Bengal, the book is truly inspired by the innocence of the childhood. Let them be what they want to be FOR NOW.

You can read more by following the above mentioned link.

Book Review Grow Up Messy! by Mahathi Ramya

As taken from http://www.fantasticfeathers.in/2017/01/grow-up-messy-by-paromita-goswami-book.html

This is the story of a sweet naughty 5-year-old girl Misry who is called as Messy by everyone because of the mess she creates. Misry is the daughter of Anurag who works at Border security force and thus have to move to many places due to his dad’said work assignments.

As expected, the story shows the world in the perspective of a 5-year-old, her naughtiness and her innocence. Like every other parent, her mother Madhavi sometimes says, ‘Grow up Messy’ because of the kids’ naughtiness. Also, she loves the innocence, intelligence and energy of her daughter and prays inside her heart ‘Never grow up, Messy’.

That’s very true of parenting right? Even though kids annoy us with their childish behavior, they are adorable too. We want them to become mature but worry that we miss their innocence and naughtiness. As I am already managing 2 year and 5-year-old boys, I could relate to this feeling.

More than the childhood adventures of Misry, I learned about the lifestyle and sacrifices of the families of army who protect our country day and night to keep us safe. These lines from the book are worth a mention
“Men in uniform have no time to look behind for their family. Restoring peace and harmony had always been foremost for them. Salute to their wives who are so strong willed that even in situations like these they know how to take control of themselves and let their men march away for the nation without any frown on their forehead.”
Misry is adorable and intelligent for her age. Her mother Madhavi shows good patience while managing misry and clarifying her doubts. Anurag is an ideal father and the way he deals the problem when misry stops going to school for a silly reason is very nice. The characters of misry’s dadu and dadi, pallavi mashi, honey etc are portrayed very well and make the story strong. I loved reading this book in a 5 year old perspective and would recommend this to parents as well as children. The ending felt abrupt though it says to read second part of the book series. It might have been better. The book cover and title are apt.

Book Review Grow Up Messy! by Kishnan

From the blog http://levyingkishan.blogspot.in

The story revolves around a little girl Misry (named after an Indian sweet). But people around her call here Messy, just like making fun of her.

A light hearted story with the story revolving around our sweet little protagonist Misry. It is a beautiful story showcasing the beautiful lifestyle of Misry far from the humdrum of the city life.

The story shows how differently kids grow up far in the countryside and enjoy the nature than the electronics gadgets that the city kids get from their parents.

Having sweet revenge on his cousin Raju and Bheeru, it was awesome when I reading the story. It made me feel as if I am not connected to the real world and how it functions. I felt as if I am busy being busy.

Jatra an Indian play (like theaters) was something that I read about after a long long time. When I was a kid I did go to Jatra and played with goat kids and calves. I had a great time back then and really enjoyed life.

The author has done an incredible job in describing all those details and I relived the moments all over again the story.

It is a great book for kids and they will fall in love with the story plot. Whatever a little girl can do, Misry has done it.

Awesome book!

Book Review Grow Up Messy! by Arti

A fabulous review from Arti from https://metroreader.wordpress.com/2017/01/10/grow-up-messy-by-paromita-goswami/

The cover is very cute and gives an idea about the girl we are going to read about. All in all, the story is very cute, the author has really penned the book well and the concept is nice. Misry’s innocence is the mainstay of the book and also her antics. The language is simple and it should be easily understood by the age group that the book has been targeted at. All the characters are well developed and realistic and could be easily visualized. The fun and the activities Misry goes through have been beautifully described.

The use of Bengali terms makes the book all the more interesting. The author has added a vocabulary at the end of the book to explain the terms, making it easier for a non Bengali reader to understand the story better.

Loved the book immensely. Waiting for the next one in the Messy series.

Disclaimer: I received a free e-copy of the book from the author in return for my honest review. I have NOT received any monetary compensation for the same.

Metro Reader

Grow Up Messy by Paromita Goswami is the story of five year old Misry, whose father is an officer in the Border Security Force. Everyone calls her Messy and she does not like it. Superstar Amitabh Bachchan is her dream man. She always befriends children older than her own age and that too boys. She was born at her maternal grandfather’s form and spent the first two years of her life there surrounded by cousins, uncles, aunts and animals for company.

The Blurb (from Smashwords):

Childhood is considered to be the best time of one’s life. What if you get a chance to live it once more with a five-year-old?
Misry, a naughty five-year-old girl, lives with her parents in a B.S.F border outpost near Indo-Bangladesh border. But with no schools and friends she feels very lonely. She tries to befriend some local village kids. But they find her incompetent…

View original post 346 more words

Happy New Year 2017