Which Best Sellers Of 2015 Won Literary Awards?

In 2015, several bestsellers also scooped up major literary awards. 'Purity' by Jonathan Franzen was a bestseller and a finalist for the Kirkus Prize. Franzen’s sprawling, character-driven novels are always a treat, and this one is no exception. Another standout is 'The Girl on the Train' by Paula Hawkins, which won the Goodreads Choice Award and was a global phenomenon. Its twisty plot and unreliable narrator kept me hooked.

For nonfiction, 'H Is for Hawk' by Helen Macdonald won the Samuel Johnson Prize and was a bestseller. Macdonald’s memoir about training a goshawk while grieving her father’s death is lyrical and haunting. These books prove that 2015 was a year where critical acclaim and commercial success went hand in hand.

2015 was a year when literary awards and bestseller lists overlapped in the most exciting ways. 'The Underground Railroad' by Colson Whitehead, though published in 2016, started gaining buzz in 2015 and later won the Pulitzer Prize. But staying true to 2015, 'The Story of the Lost Child' by Elena Ferrante, the final book in the Neapolitan Novels, was a bestseller and won the Strega Prize, Italy’s top literary award. Ferrante’s writing is so immersive that I felt like I was living in Naples alongside her characters.

Another book that captured my heart is 'The Whites' by Richard Price (writing as Harry Brandt). It was a bestseller and a finalist for the Edgar Award. Price’s gritty, authentic dialogue and complex characters make this crime novel stand out. For poetry lovers, 'Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude' by Ross Gay won the National Book Critics Circle Award and was a bestseller. Gay’s poems are joyful and deeply human, celebrating life’s small wonders. These books show that great storytelling transcends genres and awards.

I’m always on the lookout for books that combine commercial success with literary merit, and 2015 delivered some real treasures. 'The Sympathizer' by Viet Thanh Nguyen won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and was a bestseller. It’s a gripping spy novel with deep philosophical undertones, and Nguyen’s writing is simply masterful. Another favorite of mine is 'Between the World and Me' by Ta-Nehisi Coates, which won the National Book Award for Nonfiction. This powerful letter to his son about being Black in America is both poetic and urgent.

I also adored 'The Mare' by Mary Gaitskill, which didn’t win major awards but was a critical darling and a bestseller. It’s a raw and beautiful story about race, class, and the bond between a girl and a horse. For a lighter but equally compelling read, 'Euphoria' by Lily King won the Kirkus Prize and was a New York Times bestseller. It’s a fictionalized account of Margaret Mead’s life that’s as lush as it is intelligent. These books prove that bestsellers can also be literary masterpieces.

As someone who devours books like they're going out of style, 2015 was a fantastic year for literary awards and bestsellers. One standout was 'A Little Life' by Hanya Yanagihara, which was a finalist for the Man Booker Prize and the National Book Award. This novel is a heart-wrenching exploration of friendship and trauma, and it’s stayed with me long after I turned the last page. Another gem is 'The Sellout' by Paul Beatty, which won the National Book Critics Circle Award and later the Man Booker Prize. It’s a razor-sharp satire on race in America that’s as hilarious as it is thought-provoking.

Then there’s 'Fates and Furies' by Lauren Groff, a finalist for the National Book Award. This book offers a mesmerizing dual perspective on a marriage, and Groff’s prose is nothing short of dazzling. For those who love historical fiction, 'The Nightingale' by Kristin Hannah was a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick and won the Goodreads Choice Award. It’s a powerful story of two sisters in Nazi-occupied France that’s both heartbreaking and inspiring. These books not only topped bestseller lists but also earned critical acclaim, making them must-reads for any serious book lover.