By Girish Shukla
Copyright timesnownews
Nicole Kidman has always been more than a celebrated actress. Over the years, she has shown a deep appreciation for stories that explore the complexity of human lives, whether through her choice of roles or her personal reading. Her selections reflect a curiosity about love, resilience, ambition, and the subtle currents that shape our relationships. To step into her world of reading is to glimpse the same themes that often guide her performances on screen. Here are five books Nicole Kidman has spoken about or been closely associated with, each carrying a resonance that extends far beyond the page. Also Read: 5 Books Recommended by Julien Baker 1. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy Tolstoy’s epic is one of the great cornerstones of literature. Blending historical narrative with intimate human drama, it explores war, love, family, and fate against the backdrop of nineteenth-century Russia. Nicole Kidman has expressed admiration for this book, particularly for its breadth of insight into how ordinary lives are shaped by the tides of history. Reading ‘War and Peace’ is not simply an exercise in endurance but an immersion in the fullness of human experience, demanding patience but rewarding it richly. 2. All Fours by Miranda July Miranda July’s latest novel is playful yet piercing, capturing the strange intersections of desire, intimacy, and creativity. It examines how people navigate midlife, longing, and the contradictions between freedom and responsibility. For an actress like Kidman, who has often embodied characters balancing vulnerability and strength, ‘All Fours’ resonates with its blend of wit and candour. It is a book that defies easy categorisation, much like July herself, and speaks to readers who are not afraid of discomfort or self-reflection. 3. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty It is impossible to separate Nicole Kidman from ‘Big Little Lies’. While the book was already a bestseller, her starring role in the acclaimed television adaptation brought Moriarty’s story of suburban secrets and survival to an even larger audience. At its core, the novel tackles friendship, domestic violence, and the facades people construct to hide private struggles. For Kidman, who has spoken about how personal and challenging this role was, the book represents more than a story. It represents a mirror held up to modern relationships. 4. Same As It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo Claire Lombardo’s novel is a rich family drama that spans decades, examining the lives of its characters with humour, warmth, and unflinching honesty. Kidman is set to star in a film adaptation, which signals her recognition of the book’s cinematic potential as well as its emotional truth. Lombardo writes with an eye for the ways families nurture and wound us simultaneously. This book is both sprawling and intimate, showing how time, memory, and choices shape the identities we carry into adulthood. 5. Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff Groff’s acclaimed novel dissects marriage with rare intensity, telling the story of a partnership from two radically different perspectives. On one side is passion and ambition; on the other is silence, sacrifice, and secrets. The novel captures the duality of relationships with precision. For Kidman, who has consistently gravitated towards roles that examine what lies beneath appearances, this book fits seamlessly into her literary taste. It is a story about love and betrayal, ambition and illusion, and the truths that emerge when both voices are heard. Also Read: 5 Books Recommended by Jamie Lee Curtis Nicole Kidman’s reading choices reveal her fascination with complexity. These are not simple stories with neat resolutions, but layered explorations of love, identity, and survival. They show how literature can be as demanding and rewarding as cinema, inviting readers to slow down and reflect on their own lives. If there is a giveaway in her list, it is this: the books that stay with us are rarely easy. They challenge, they unsettle, and they expand the way we see ourselves and others. Following Kidman’s recommendations means accepting that the most valuable stories are those that resist simplicity and echo long after the final page.
