Boy, do I have a deal for a wonderful summer vacation for the citizens of Muskogee.

How would you like to take a vacation and not have to worry about high gas prices, sunburn, crowds, or standing in long lines? A vacation that is already paid for and offers hours of pleasure without the hassle of packing and leaving home. It is the Muskogee Public Library’s summer reading program “Catch the Reading Bug.” The “Reading Bug” is a wonderful bug to catch this summer especially for adults who may have forgotten the joy of reading just for fun.

This is the sixth year that the library has had a Reading Program for adults. For the past five years the library participated in the Oklahoma Reads Oklahoma statewide program preparing for the Centennial. Since this program ended last summer we decided to adopt the kid’s summer reading theme and come up with our own list of suggested summer reads. Our reading list is a hodge podge of titles, series or authors which were suggested by staff members. The list does not include any current best sellers but are all great reads. While this list provides suggestions it is not mandatory for participants to read from the list. Participant may read any books they want but we would like for them to sign up at the library so we know they are infected by the “Reading Bug.”

I am going to provide a list of the books on the “Catch the Reading Bug” program and briefly touch on a few of them.

The non-fiction list includes: “Audrey Hepburn” by Sean Hepburn Ferrer; Aunt Carries War by Carrie Barefoot Dickerson (This is about a woman in Claremore who mounted a protest against the Blackhawk Nuclear Power Plant and quilted in order to provide some of her finances.); Cleora’s Kitchens by Cleora Butler ( This is a great group of stories and recipes which cover Cleora's life, part of which was spent in Muskogee.); any “Chicken Soup” title by Jack Canfield; “Comanche Land” by J. Emmor Harston; “Geronimo” by Angie Debo; “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou; “John Wayne, American” by Randy Roberts; “Tuesdays With Morrie” by Mitch Albom; “Wah'Kon-Tah' by John Joseph Mathews; “We Were There Too” by Phillip M. Hoose; and “Wild Blue” by Stephen Ambrose.

The fiction list includes: Any title by Agatha Christie or Zane Grey; “Circle of Grace” by Penelope Stokes; “Cotillion,” “Frederika” or “Grand Sophy” by Georgette Heyer. (These are the best of the best for the 'Regency' genre and have an interesting history of being reissued about every 10 years and finding new audiences every time.); “Florians Gate,” “Amber Room”, and “Winter Palace” by T. Davis Bunn (This 'Inspirational' trilogy is great for antique lovers); “Joy Luck Club” by Amy Tan; the “Key Trilogy” by Nora Roberts; “The Firm” by John Grisham (This is probably the top of the legal thrillers.); “The #1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall-Smith; “Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas” by James Patterson; “The Old Man and the Sea” by Earnest Hemingway (A great classic novel.); and the “Wheel of Time” series by Robert Jordan. (This series has many books in it but according to my daughter it is an absolutely fantastic fantasy series.)

These are Muskogee Public Library’s suggestions for great summer reads and we hope all of Muskogee will catch the “Reading Bug.”

For information on any of our summer reading programs just call 682-6657 or come visit us at Muskogee Public Library.