We head to two historic cities in Montana, Helena and Bozeman, for our latest Book Group City Tour!
Montana encompasses some of the most beautiful terrain in the western United States. The Rocky Mountains, the Great Plains, Glacier National Park. From hiking on Sleeping Giant Mountain to admiring the historic architecture in Reeder’s Alley, Montana’s capital, Helena, boasts a wide range of attractions for audiences as diverse as its landscape. Meanwhile, about an hour and a half southeast of Helena lies Bozeman. The city boasts the Museum of the Rockies (with its famous Siebel Dinosaur Complex), Montana State University, and hiking on the Bridger Range.
Any readers on the hunt for their next book group will also find what they are looking for in these historic cities! We offer these bookstores, libraries, and institutions where you can join a literary discussion.
Be sure to contact each organization to confirm that their offerings continue during this time. (And don’t forget to browse the list of the other great cities we’ve visited…)
Montana Book Co.
Searching for a bookstore where you can attend a vinyl listening party, attend regular author readings, and join a book group on social justice? Look no further than Montana Book Co., an independent bookstore on Helena’s Last Chance Gulch. It was originally established in 1978 as The Little Professor bookstore. And now, Montana Book Co. hosts community events with an emphasis on inclusivity in addition to offering great reads. The store also hosts four book clubs: Social Justice, Legacy, Science Fiction, and the Young Readers ARC Club. Participants in the latter group even get early access to upcoming books! Check out Montana Book Co.’s website for more information, and then start reading…
Lewis & Clark Public Library
As one might expect, Helena’s local public library holds a great selection of book groups for the avid reader. Some groups, like the Civics Book Group, read and discuss historical works with an aim to educate citizens on government-related issues. Others, like the Daytimers Group, bring the community together through works of contemporary world fiction. For more info on these book groups and others, visit the Lewis & Clark Public Library’s website.
Country Bookshelf
The winner of numerous awards and a member of the American Booksellers Association, Country Bookshelf remains an iconic part of Bozeman. This independent bookstore hosts the Bozeman Teen Book Fest and has launched their own 2020 Reading Challenge (see this link for more info). Also, Country Bookshelf is home to four book groups: the Country Bookshelf Book Club, the Wonderlust Mystery Series, the Young Adult Book Club, and the Adventure Women’s Book Club. Visit this quaint and friendly bookstore to find your next read or your next book group; more information can be found on the Country Bookshelf website.
Montana Racial Equity Project
The Montana Racial Equity Project (MTREP) is a nonprofit dedicated to helping marginalized groups. They accomplish their mission through education, respectful dialogue, and community events. This includes their Racial Justice Book Club, which meets every month at the Bozeman Public Library. With past book selections such as Tommy Orange’s There There and Ijeoma Oluo’s So You Want to Talk about Race, this book group features discussions about pertinent issues for our time. You can find more information about MTREP here and the Racial Justice Book Club here.
Bozeman Public Library
Home to seven book clubs, the Bozeman Public Library is a hub for readers and book group fanatics alike. Some of the library’s book groups meet in non-library locations. The Walking Book Club meets on local trails to discuss their books, and the Reverie Readers meets at a location outside the library to discuss fantasy reads. Others, like the Kids Book Club for readers ages eight and up, meet at the library for their community discussions. Visit the Bozeman Public Library’s website for more information; book group information can be found here.
Photo of Montana State Capitol by Steven Cordes on Unsplash
Still have wanderlust? Check out our Book Store Group Tour, which visits some of the best independent bookstores to spotlight their book groups!