Hi All!

I’m excited to start blogging with you. Reading and book culture has been a valuable part of my life since I could remember. I have fond memories of being read to as a child, and developing my reading throughout those years. My teen years were no different; a book was always nearby. I found comfort in reading, since my health wasn’t the best. Doctors struggled to find a diagnosis. Why was I was tired all the time, even when I slept twelve hours the night before? I was tested for Lupus, Lyme disease, even acute intermittent porphyria (say that three times fast). Finally I was diagnosed at fourteen – narcolepsy with cataplexy. It’s a complex neurological disorder that, among other things, causes reversal of one’s circadian rhythm. Essentially, I’m exhausted in the day, and awake at night. With medication and determination, I’ve got my narcolepsy more or less under control. Still, it dictates my activity level and wakefulness. Books have become a healthy way to cope with my condition.

Sarah Giles

Parenting through all of this has been a not-so-perfect juggle. My five-year-old daughter has developed a keen sense of impending nap episodes, and is quick to wake me. Like a service dog, of sorts. Except she talks. A lot. My barely three-year-old son, a cosmic ball of golden energy, is rather oblivious. They’re both beautiful and wonderful and loud, and their love for books makes my heart nearly burst. My husband ties us all together nicely. Like most other life-long Maineiacs, Joshua enjoys outdoor activities throughout the year – golfing and snowmobiling among his favorites. Oh, and reading, too.

So, let us blog. I’ll have a few weekly posts about newly released books, and books that I’ve read and reviews. As the snow melts (it has to eventually, right?), I’ll be posting about upcoming book events author signings through the area. Discussions and questions are welcome, too! Have a middle schooler who doesn’t like to read? There’s a book for that. Want to buy a book for your partner who’s read nearly everything? There’s a book for that, too.

You bring the coffee, I’ll bring the books.