At a Glance
- Natalie Portman, 44, has launched Natalie’s Book Club to share monthly book picks with readers worldwide.
- January’s selection is Strange Pictures by Japanese YouTuber Uketsu, a haunting collection of nine interconnected stories.
- Past club choices include memoirs by Malala Yousafzai and Amanda Nguyen, plus Jessica Stanley’s novel Consider Yourself Kissed.
- Why it matters: The actress aims to foster empathy through literature, inviting fans to read along with her in 2026.
Natalie Portman is turning the page on a new chapter. The Oscar-winning actress has created Natalie’s Book Club, a monthly reading series that launched in January 2026 and already counts thousands of followers.
Portman, 44, announced the club through her official website, promising a fresh title every month. She curates a mix of memoirs and fiction, spotlighting voices she believes broaden understanding.
January Pick: Strange Pictures
To open the year, Portman selected Uketsu’s Strange Pictures, a collection that blends horror and mystery. The Japanese YouTuber-turned-author structures the book around nine eerie drawings; each illustration launches a standalone tale, yet the stories lock together like puzzle pieces.
Readers must decode how the characters link across pages, making the act of reading an investigation. HarperVia published the English translation in late 2025, and the title gained viral traction on BookTok before Portman’s endorsement sent it back to press.
Why Reading Equals Empathy
Portman frames the club as more than entertainment. On the site she writes:
> “I believe that reading books is one of the first ways we start practicing empathy. We feel for characters in stories as we might for ourselves or our own friends. Whenever we imagine someone else’s life – their hopes and fears, their feelings and thoughts – we are practicing empathy.”
The quote headlines the club’s manifesto, and members are encouraged to post reactions using the hashtag #NataliesBookClub.
Previous Selections
Before the official club launch, Portman shared informal picks that now count as back-catalog reads:
- Malala Yousafzai – Finding My Way, a memoir tracing the Nobel laureate’s life after survival.
- Amanda Nguyen – Saving Five, the civil-rights activist’s account of turning personal tragedy into policy change.
- Jessica Stanley – Consider Yourself Kissed, a multigenerational novel set between Sydney and London.
Each title spiked in sales the month Portman praised it on Instagram, according to News Of Los Angeles‘s earlier tracking.
How the Club Works
Membership is free. On the first of every month Portman posts:
- A reveal video filmed in her home library
- Discussion questions mid-month
- A live-streamed conversation with the author when schedules align
Participants can buy the book through an indie-store affiliate link, though purchase is not required to join discussions. A private forum moderated by volunteers keeps threads spoiler-free for latecomers.
What’s Next
February’s selection remains under wraps, but Portman has hinted at a feminist sci-fi novel translated from Spanish. Until the announcement, readers are devouring Strange Pictures, cataloguing clues in a shared Google Doc that already runs 200 pages.
Key Takeaways
- Natalie Portman formalized her longtime passion for books into Natalie’s Book Club on January 1, 2026.
- January’s pick, Strange Pictures by Uketsu, challenges readers to connect nine horror-tinged tales.
- The actress views reading as empathy training, a theme she returns to in every post.
- Past selections show a pattern: memoirs that inspire and fiction that crosses borders.
- Club growth is organic, fueled by Portman’s direct engagement and spoiler-free discussion guides.
