About Me:

Aloha! I'm Wendy Kennar. I'm the mother of a seven-year-old son and a wife living in Los Angeles. I was a public school teacher for twelve years until a chronic medical condition made it necessary to leave my teaching career.

I've always been described as "quiet" - really, I'm just biting my tongue. I've got lots to say, and lots of thoughts to share, I just prefer to write them. That's the purpose of this blog. Each Wednesday, I post a personal essay offering my observations and thoughts.

A few fun facts about me: I've wanted to be a writer since second grade, when my teacher, Mrs. Jones, made me a "book" with a yellow construction paper cover. I have never learned to whistle, have always preferred sunflowers to roses, and have spent my life living within the same zip code.

Through the years, my writing has been published in the Los Angeles Times, Christian Science Monitor, United Teacher, GreenPrints, L.A. Parent, DivineCaroline.com, RoleReboot.org, XOJane, and Brain, Child Magazine. Additionally, my personal essays have been included in several anthologies, including: The Barefoot Review, Beyond the Diaper Bag, Lessons From My Parents, Write for Light, Being a Grown-Up: A User's Manual for the Real World, Ka-Pow!, How Writing Can Get You Through Tough Times, Breath and Shadow, The Grey Wolfe Storybook, and Sisters Born, Sisters Found.
I am a regular contributor at MomsLA.com, and you can also find me at Goodreads.

Thanks for stopping by and reading my blog. Feel free to comment and share my blog with others!

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Bye-Bye Borders

   It’s not just me.
   It’s not just me that’s saddened by the news of Borders going out of business.  It’s Sandy Banks, too.  Sandy Banks wrote an entire column in the Sunday L.A. Times lamenting the closure of this national book chain.
   Nothing compares to shopping for books in a book store.  Nothing compares to holding a book, opening it up, feeling the resistance of the spine give way.  Books are objects to be treated gently, reverently.  Books are miniature worlds I share with children - both my son and my students.  
   I share with you some of the words Sandy Banks included in her column from the July 24th edition of the Los Angeles Times:

   “But nothing beats holding a book in my hands; skimming it, smelling it, flipping the pages, hearing the author’s voice in my head.  It’s that process of discovery, not the product, that makes partners among loyal book lovers and buyers.”
     “I like moving through my house and seeing the evidence of who I’ve been and what ideas I’ve wondered about stacked on shelves and tables around me.”

   My son is three years old and already I have evidence of his growth just by looking at his collection of books.  Ryan has progressed and no longer solely reads chewable books (books with teething portions attached for infants).  We are reading from our third copy of Goodnight Moon, having worn out the first two copies.  Ryan can pick up a book of shapes, look at the pictures, and correctly identify the names.  Ryan can ask to read Todd Parr’s The Mommy Book and comment on the illustration of the upside-down mommy and the mommy with the big hair.  Ryan is perfectly content to spend time browsing books - books at home, books at the public library, books at the local bookstore.  There is no electronic device that offers a comparable experience.
   And now, Borders is gone. 

4 comments:

  1. I think it is horrible that Borders has closed.They want children to read more but they keep closing all the bookstores.I so enjoyed going to Borders and looking for books that interested me and I enjoyed looking on the clearance tables.I am a slow reader,but I love to read.I love how Ryan enjoys looking at books and how he loves to be read to.I feel his love of books will always stay with him.I love reading your work.I love you and I am so proud of you.
    love,mommy

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  2. Thanks to your Mother, I am reading a lot more. I enjoy the experience more then watching TV. Your are correct, when you say, books take you places and expose you to adventures. Your Mother & I are proud of you.

    Love, Dad

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  3. Honey,

    I am sorry that one of your favorite places to discover books is closing. This reminds me of when all of my favorite records stores started closing like the Warehouse and Tower Records. Hopefully enthusiast shops for books similar to Ameoba Records will be able to supply the great experience of physically browsing for a new book!

    I Love you with all of my heart!

    Love, Paul

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  4. It makes me sad too.. I love Borders and their books. It makes me upset to know that something so precious is being closed down. I love your writing and I love you.

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