Nicole Kidman Reveals Her Love of Ann Patchett’s ‘Whistler’ and Other Recent Book Obsessions
The actress opened up about her lifelong love of reading and her current recommendations
Key Takeaways
- Nicole Kidman has opened up over the years about her love of books and reading.
- Recently, the 'Practical Magic 2' actress revealed some of her recent reads and reccs.
- Here, read about Nicole Kidman's recent favorites, including Ann Patchett's 'Whistler.'
Nicole Kidman has long been loud and proud about her love of books and reading, and during a recent chat with Jack Edwards while promoting Practical Magic 2, she opened up about where her passion of literature stemmed from, as well as some of her most recent recommendations—which include none that than Ann Patchett!
“I grew up reading the Russians,” Nicole shared in the interview, to which her co-star, Sandra Bullock, chimed in with “Dostoevsky.” Nicole agreed, saying, “Yes, and Tolstoy, and then I moved into the Brontës and all of the yearning, as I call it. I think I was just raised on classical literature. I had that list of the hundred books you have to read when I was little. I would tick them off during my summers because I couldn’t go out on the beach because I’m so fair. So I would sit at home during the midday sun and I would read, and I would become everybody, and then I’d be devastated when the book ended.”
Nicole went on to share some of her recent reads and recommendations, and as it turns out, she’s an Ann Patchett fan like the rest of us! In 2014, while Nicole was helping the Nashville Public Library raise $2 million, she was interviewed by Ann for the campaign. The duo both have ties to Tennessee, and years later, it should come as no surprise that Nicole has a whole lot of love for Ann’s work. Here, a peek at Nicole’s current bookshelf.
‘Mother Mary Comes to Me’ by Arundhati Roy
The first book Nicole shared off of her list of recent reads was Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy. Roy’s 2025 memoir chronicles her complex relationship with her mother from childhood until her death in 2022, and details the ways in which their bond influenced Roy as a writer and as a person in general.
What readers are saying: “Really loved this. My favorite kind of nonfiction—combines history, politics and family storytelling in a beautifully written package, with the thread of Arundhati Roy’s life story to bring it all together. It’s a thoughtful exploration of how childhood, class, gender and history impact every aspect of life.”
‘Whistler’ by Ann Patchett
Nicole Kidman is certainly not immune to the Ann Patchett craze, for the actress shared that she had recently read Whistler. The book tells the story of Daphne Fuller, who, during a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, crosses paths with Eddie Triplett, her former stepfather who was briefly married to her mother when Daphne was only nine. After a fateful night took their lives in different directions, their reconnection sparks a reflection on the past and how the decisions we make can alter the course of our lives.
What readers are saying: “I think I can officially say this is the best fiction I’ve read this year so far, and honestly, when it comes to Ann Patchett, I shouldn’t be surprised anymore. She has this almost unfair ability to take ordinary human lives, complicated relationships, old wounds, missed opportunities, and all the things people carry silently for decades—and somehow turn them into something that feels completely extraordinary.”
‘The Things We Never Say’ by Elizabeth Strout
Nicole also shared that she was about to start The Thing We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout, which follows an eleventh grade history teacher whose seemingly normal existence hides his internal struggles and feelings of isolation—until an unveiled secret alters his perspective.
What readers are saying: “I have always loved Elizabeth Strout’s writing for the way she captures the human condition with such clarity and compassion. Her books are consistently thought-provoking and remarkably perceptive about what it means to be human. This one was especially beautiful. It felt as though she had been quietly observing all of us over the past several years, taking notes and then shaping those insights into the story. It is timely, deeply emotional and profoundly relatable.”
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