Natalie Portman is an acclaimed actress and filmmaker with a career that highlights her versatility and commitment to challenging roles. Born in Jerusalem in 1981 and raised in the United States, Portman made her film debut in "Léon: The Professional" and gained further recognition as Padmé Amidala in the "Star Wars" prequel trilogy. Her performance in "Black Swan" earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress. Portman is also known for her roles in "V for Vendetta," "Jackie," and "Annihilation," among others. Her choice of roles often reflects her interest in strong, complex characters and her desire to address important social and political themes.
❝I don't love studying. I hate studying. I like learning. Learning is beautiful.❞ — Natalie Portman
Education plays a significant role in Portman's life; she graduated from Harvard University with a degree in psychology. She is an avid reader, a trait that complements her academic pursuits and influences her approach to her roles and public engagements. Portman's interest in reading spans a wide range of subjects, including literature, science, and international affairs, reflecting her broad intellectual curiosity. This love for reading not only informs her understanding of the characters she portrays but also fuels her activism and her efforts to promote educational initiatives and gender equality in the entertainment industry.
Natalie Portman's Favorite Books
Last Updated: June 2024
The Family Roe: An American Story
Author: Joshua Prager
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Date: Sep 14th, 2021
Prager's in-depth investigation into the life and legacy of Norma McCorvey, the "Jane Roe" of Roe v. Wade, reveals the personal and societal impacts of the landmark Supreme Court case on abortion rights in America.
Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion
Author: Jia Tolentino
Publisher: Random House
Date: Aug 6th, 2019
In this collection of essays, Tolentino examines the complexities of contemporary culture, exploring themes like the internet, feminism, and the illusions we create about ourselves.
She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement
Author: Jodi Kantor
Publisher: Penguin Books
Date: Sep 10th, 2019
Kantor and Twohey recount their investigative journalism that exposed Harvey Weinstein's sexual harassment and assault, contributing to the rise of the #MeToo movement.
Something That May Shock and Discredit You
Author: Daniel M. Lavery
Publisher: Atria Books
Date: Feb 11th, 2020
Lavery blends memoir, humor, and cultural critique in this collection of essays that explore his experiences with gender transition, literary history, and the transformative power of storytelling.
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Cassandra at the Wedding
Author: Dorothy Baker
Publisher: NYRB Classics
Date: Aug 21st, 2012
This novel follows Cassandra Edwards, a graduate student who returns home to California for her twin sister's wedding, exploring themes of identity, sibling rivalry, and psychological struggle with wit and poignancy.
Summer Snow: New Poems
Author: Robert Hass
Publisher: Ecco
Date: Jan 7th, 2020
In this collection, former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Hass offers meditative and lyrical poems that reflect on nature, politics, and the human condition, capturing the beauty and complexity of everyday life.
Kaddish.com
Author: Nathan Englander
Publisher: W&N
Date: Mar 26th, 2019
This darkly humorous novel follows Larry, a secular Jewish man who, in a moment of crisis, outsources the saying of Kaddish (the Jewish mourning prayer) for his deceased father to a website, leading to unexpected spiritual and personal consequences.
Olga Dies Dreaming: A Novel
Author: Xochitl Gonzalez
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Date: Jan 4th, 2022
This novel follows Olga and her brother, Pedro "Prieto" Acevedo, as they grapple with their personal ambitions and family secrets in the wake of Hurricane Maria, set against the backdrop of a changing Brooklyn neighborhood.
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A Sister’s Story
Author: Donatella Di Pietrantonio
Publisher: Europa Editions
Date: Apr 19th, 2022
This novel follows a woman who is suddenly reconnected with her estranged sister, forcing her to confront long-buried family secrets and reevaluate her understanding of love, loyalty, and identity.
Simple passion
Author: Annie Ernaux
Publisher: Four Walls Eight Windows
Date: Dec 21st, 1993
Ernaux's autobiographical novella delves into the author's obsessive and consuming affair with a married man, capturing the intensity and tumult of desire and longing.
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All About Love: New Visions
Author: bell hooks
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Date: Jan 30th, 2018
Hooks offers a profound exploration of the nature of love in contemporary society, addressing its many forms and advocating for a return to a love ethic that fosters mutual respect, compassion, and justice.
Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses
Author: Robin Wall Kimmerer
Publisher: Oregon State University Press
Date: Mar 1st, 2003
Kimmerer, a bryologist and member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, blends scientific knowledge and indigenous wisdom to provide a profound and poetic look at the world of mosses.
Royals
Author: Emma Forrest
Publisher: Bloomsbury Circus
Date: Nov 14th, 2019
Set against the backdrop of the 1981 royal wedding, this novel follows two teenagers from different backgrounds who form an unlikely friendship while recovering in a London hospital, navigating issues of class, identity, and the longing for connection.
Vladimir: A Novel
Author: Julia May Jonas
Publisher: Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster
Date: Feb 1st, 2022
In this provocative debut, an aging English professor becomes infatuated with a younger novelist, setting off a chain of events that examine power dynamics, desire, and the shifting landscape of academia.
The Ministry of Special Cases
Author: Nathan Englander
Publisher: Knopf
Date: Apr 24th, 2007
Set in 1970s Argentina during the Dirty War, this novel follows Kaddish Poznan and his wife, Lillian, as they navigate the terrifying landscape of political repression and their desperate search for their missing son.
How to Love Your Daughter: A Novel
Author: Hila Blum
Publisher: Riverhead Books
Date: Jul 18th, 2023
Blum's novel explores the complex, often fraught relationship between a mother and her estranged daughter, delving into themes of love, regret, and the enduring bonds of family.
Freedom: A Novel
Author: Jonathan Franzen
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Date: Aug 31st, 2010
Jonathan Franzen explores the story of the Berglund family, capturing the struggles and paradoxes of American life as they navigate personal freedoms, responsibilities, and the environmental and political issues shaping their times.
The Diary of a Country Priest
Author: Georges Bernanos
Publisher: Lulu.com
Date: Sep 6th, 2019
This novel chronicles the struggles and spiritual journey of a young, idealistic priest in a small French village, whose attempts to live a Christ-like life lead to both suffering and profound insights into the human condition.
American Pastoral
Author: Philip Roth
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Date: Dec 21st, 1997
Roth's novel follows the life of Seymour "Swede" Levov, a successful Jewish-American businessman whose idyllic life is shattered by the political turmoil and radicalism of the 1960s, particularly through the actions of his rebellious daughter.
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Great House: A Novel
Author: Nicole Krauss
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Date: Oct 5th, 2010
Krauss's novel weaves together the lives of four characters linked by a mysterious desk, exploring themes of memory, loss, and the ways in which our possessions shape our identities.
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Normal People: A Novel
Author: Sally Rooney
Publisher: Crown
Date: Apr 16th, 2019
Rooney's novel explores the intricate and evolving relationship between Connell and Marianne, two Irish teenagers who navigate the complexities of love, friendship, and personal growth from high school to university.
