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, September 4, 2013

Diving Into a New Book


   I’m an avid book reader.  My bookcase has one designated shelf stacked with “to-be-read” books.  I usually am reading one or two books at a time, not to mention the Sunday L.A. Times (which takes me at least a few days to get through) and a magazine.  

   However, as much as I enjoy reading, as much as I look to books for information, new perspectives, inspiration, and/or an escape, there’s always a little bit of a lull between when I finish one book and begin another one.

     Hopefully, the book I have just completed was a satisfying read.  It was (depending on the subject matter):  delicious, thought-provoking, amusing, stimulating, entertaining, moving.

   I’m basking in the after-glow and am hesitant to give myself over to a new title.  I’m still reveling in the tale from my just completed-book and wonder if this new title will be just as good.  Will the pages fly by?  Will minutes pass as I realize I’ve stayed up thirty minutes later than I had planned to, all because I just had to see what would happen next?

   But, thoughts of hesitation and doubtfulness can only last a few days, because then there’s a nagging feeling that something is missing.  The something missing is a new book.  It’s what I will bring with me when I arrive at my son’s school five minutes before dismissal.  It’s what I will read as I wait for water to boil for spaghetti.  It’s what I will read before gravity takes over and makes my eyelids too heavy to keep open.

   So then it’s just a matter of going “shopping” on my bookcase and selecting the next book I’ll read and add to my Goodreads log (www.goodreads.com), taking a breath, and diving in.

3 comments:

  1. I too love to read,but I am a slow reader.I have almost 3 tall bookcases full of books.I love reading your work and how you explain everything in such detail.I am so glad more and more of your work is being published.I love you and I am so proud of you.
    love,mommy

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  2. Your mother has gotten me into reading,and I am enjoying it.Great essay.Your mother and I are proud of you.

    love,dad

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  3. Honey,
    I just felt the same way after finishing a book and hesitated on jumping into the next one! It is a great feeling when you can't stop turning the pages in a good book.
    I Love You!
    me

    ReplyDelete