Hi, I’m Medellee Antonioli, owner of Isle of Book. I have been working with books my entire adult life; they are my hobby passion and career choice. I’m a 5th generation Montanan and the fact that I get to do what I love, where I love astounds and motivates me daily. I have a masters degree in Library and Information Science focused in archives and special collections (rare books) and was previously the inventory manager of the largest used bookstore in Canada, Russell books. Me and my team of incredible employees and volunteers are truly honored to be two of your independent bookstore options in this beautiful state. I love books from every genre but have a particular affinity for Classics, 20th century European literature and horror.
Recommendations:
Marcovaldo by Italo Calvino
A magical collection of short stories by one of Italy’s greatest writers. Marcovaldo follows the life of an elderly, bumbling, sweet man as he encounters various adventures near his home in Northern Italy. Marcovaldo’s affinity for mushrooms and his distaste of city life remind me of many the ranchers I encountered growing up in Montana. I love this book.
Train Dreams by Denis Johnson
What a stunning little morsel by one of the best novelists of the 20th century. Train Dreams is set on the Northern Idaho/Montana border and remains one of the few novels to truly capture the beauty and complexity of this landscape. Beginning in 1917, Train Dreams follows the life Robert Grainier a railroad laborer as he navigates the devastation brought about by greed and forest fire. Timeless and beautiful, I highly recommend this novella to anyone who lives and loves the Northern Rockies.
House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski
When people ask me “what’s your favorite book?” I almost always answer House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski, and while I’m not sure it’s the “best book” I’ve ever read, it is probably my favorite. This absolute maze of a book is confusing, intimidating, eerie, wonderful, disturbing and odd but has stuck with me like nothing else I’ve read. Danielewski masterfully pairs the style and formatting of the writing with events in the book, purposefully confusing the reader at times, forcing the reader to physically turn pages during suspenseful moments. It’s a masterpiece and must read for any horror enthusiast.
Hi, I’m Nicolette Reames and I’m the Manager and Event Coordinator of Isle of Books in Butte. I grew up in a small town in Washington state and books have always been a large part of my life. My childhood home was directly across the street from the local public library, and having such easy access to books really impacted me as I grew up. I combined my love of books, history and travel into a degree in History and Anthropology which allowed me to eventually discover the wonderful city of Butte and Isle of Books. I am now able to not only discuss books with our wonderful customers but also to bring in various authors to the store and learn more about the book business from the other end! It’s so hard to pick favorites but the genres I gravitate towards are Science Fiction & Fantasy, History and Young Adult.
Recommendations (subject to change daily!):
Life, the Universe and Everything by Douglas Adams
The whole Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series is great but this is my favorite! It
combines science fiction and British humor, and no matter how many times I read it, it never fails to entertain.
The Memoirs of Cleopatra by Margaret George
This one touches on my love of ancient history. A highly detailed historical fiction
account of the life of Cleopatra, it really flushes her out as a human being and a woman instead of the typical dry historical account that is too often the case.
Stoned by Aja Raden
No, it’s not about marajuana, the title is a bit deceptive if you don’t see the cover of the
book. It’s actually about the history of precious jewels and how they influenced people. It
combines history, human behavior and politics in a very readable way. And just enough
humorous snark to keep things interesting!
Hello, I’m MacKenzie, and I’m the manager of Isle of Books in Bozeman. I’m a third generation Montanan and I’ve been living in Bozeman since 2021. I have loved books and reading for as long as I can remember, which I mostly credit to my mother’s incredible ability to bring a story to life when she reads. I love that storytelling is something intrinsic to humanity and that this need to share and communicate with one another has connected humans across time and distance. I always say that sharing a favorite book with someone is like sharing a part of my soul, and I love that I have the opportunity to share with and learn from our customers. I mostly read Sci-Fi/Fantasy and Fabulism, but I’m lucky enough to be in a monthly book club with some of my best friends who often challenge me to expand my horizons and read outside my comfort zone, so I’ve got a feel for a little bit of everything!
The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet by John Green
Expertly connecting the factual to emotional, this collection of essays reminds its reader that they are human. While being human is sometimes messy and overwhelming and complicated, it is also incredibly beautiful, because it’s an experience that is shared.
The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow
This beautiful story is centered around a knight of legend, the academic writing her biography, and their relationship to one another as they navigate a time loop. With gorgeous prose, Harrow explores the power of a story and a narrative we create into a cultural consciousness, and if the relationships we create are worth more than a story we want to believe in. (And how absolutely incredible Lady Knights are! )
Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker
As someone who doesn’t always enjoy horror, this story still had me absolutely HOOKED! The perfect mix of real life and supernatural horror that leaves you on the edge of your seat trying to figure out what you really know about the people around you and who to trust when you don’t trust yourself.
Hey y’all, Im Dani, I am the social media manager here at isle of books. I am currently a freshman at Montana State University, but I have been working at Isle of books since I was 15 years old. I did not grow up in a reading family, but after moving to Bozeman when I was 14, I found a love of reading. Isle of Books helped me find my love for literature and the new worlds that I could immerse myself in. I am a die-hard fan of Willie Nelson and Willa Cather, weird combination I know but it describes my personality pretty well. My unserious and silly nature is something that has helped me to keep a positive attitude through every hurdle put in my way, and I love to bring that positivity to Isle of Books.
Sula by Toni Morrison
Toni Morrison has a wonderful tendency to lure you into a false sense of security with her writing. Sula is a great example of Toni’s writing style and creativity. I originally had to read this novel for my AP English class and fell in love with it. It is an incredible story that forces you to critically think on contemporary definitions of evil, wrongdoing, and fault. This book quickly soared to top 3 best books I have ever read.
Pioneer Doctor by Mary Grana
I moved to Montana 4 years ago and decided that I was going to do a Montana history deep-dive. Pioneer Doctor is one of the first Montana history books that I dove into. This story about Dr. Mary Babock Moore offers incredible insight into the mining camps of MT and women’s suffrage movement, topics that are dear to my heart. Mary Grana’s writing makes this incredible true story feel fictional. If you are looking for an educational yet engaging book, this one is the one for you!
Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw
I recognize that this pick is indeed a play, but I found Pygmalion to be one of my favorite reads that comes back into my mind whenever I shelve in our plays section. I love the character Eliza Doolittle with her spunky personality and desire to learn-even if this desire is fueled by stubbornness and teasing. Her ambitious and witty nature reminds me of myself in many ways. This quick-witted tale of social class and transformation is a classic that is well worth the read.
Hi! My name is Rachel and I am the Inventory Manager at Isle of Books in Bozeman. I moved
here in 2024 from Massachusetts with my fiance and dog, with the ocean in my heart, ready for
the grounding of the mountains. This community here is incredible and I’m so happy to be able
to share my love of books with everyone. I’ve always been a reader. I could be left happily alone
as a toddler with a good picture book in hand, and my parents could recite Good Night Moon to
you by heart because I couldn’t fall asleep without it. Then Junie B. Jones and The Magic Tree
House made their way into my life and I haven’t stopped since! I love Sci-Fi/Fantasy,
Mystery/Thrillers, and Memoirs. I’m always up for recommendations and have found some of my
favorite books at free libraries and book sales!
The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly
This is one of the books I found in a free pile at my local library. No dust jacket, but it instantly
had me captivated. It’s a young adult book about adventure, bravery and to embrace the
whimsy and weird that life is.
The Atomic Weight of Love by Elizabeth J. Church
A random purchase from a book sale! It leads to an intriguing tale about a young woman in the
1940s pursuing her dreams in ornithology while being a housewife. I feel very connected to
birds and all the wisdom they possess, and this story folds in that wisdom with being a
determined woman in a world that tries to stifle you.
Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck
A recommendation from a lovely gentleman checking me out at a store here in Bozeman. I had
just moved here and needed something that wasn’t packed away in a box. It holds a special
place in my heart, as I journeyed from the east coast with my dog in tow, taking a similar route
as John and Charley did. The people he meets along the way and experiences he shares with
them make my heart so full and happy