Did Best Sellers 2017 Books Win Any Literary Awards?

I remember diving into the 2017 bestsellers and being blown away by how many award-winning gems there were. 'Lincoln in the Bardo' by George Saunders snagged the Man Booker Prize, and it’s a surreal, emotional ride blending historical fiction with the supernatural. Then there’s 'Sing, Unburied, Sing' by Jesmyn Ward, which won the National Book Award for Fiction—a haunting, lyrical story about family and ghosts in the American South. Colson Whitehead’s 'The Underground Railroad' also swept awards, including the Pulitzer and the National Book Award, for its brutal yet poetic reimagining of slavery. These books aren’t just bestsellers; they’re masterpieces that stayed with me long after I turned the last page.

I get the itch to dig into these kinds of questions late at night — there’s something cozy about hunting down book awards with a cup of tea and a messy bookmarks bar. First thing I have to say: there isn’t a single universal title called “the best seller book 2024.” Bestseller lists vary by country, by retailer, and by chart (hardcover, paperback, combined). So, before listing awards, I usually try to pin down which list you mean: New York Times bestseller? Amazon’s top seller? A national chart like Canada’s Globe and Mail or the UK’s Sunday Times? Once you name the exact book or list, I can give a precise tally of awards it collected in 2024 and beyond. If you want a practical rundown right now, here’s how I approach it. Start with the publisher’s website and the author’s official page — they almost always stash a tidy list of accolades. Then I cross-check with reputable sources: press releases, Publisher’s Weekly, the award organizations’ official pages (Booker, Pulitzer, National Book Awards, Hugo, Nebula, Goodreads Choice), and Wikipedia’s award sections for the specific title. For genre-heavy bestsellers, also check the Hugo, Nebula, Bram Stoker, Edgar, and Locus awards. For general literary recognition, look at the Booker Prize, the Women's Prize for Fiction, the Pulitzer Prize, and the National Book Critics Circle awards. Don’t forget reader-voted prizes like the Goodreads Choice Awards and regional prizes — those can be big bragging points for a bestseller. A few extra tips from my late-night digging: use the book’s ISBN in searches to avoid confusion with similarly named titles; timestamped news articles are great for confirming award years; and if multiple editions exist (special illustrated edition, translated edition), clarify which edition the award refers to. If you tell me the exact title or paste the ISBN, I’ll pull together a neat list of awards it won in 2024, where those awards are listed, and what they mean in the industry. Otherwise, enjoy this mini-research checklist — it’s how I keep my ‘to-read’ pile justified and my social media book bragging more accurate.

One title that immediately springs to mind is 'The Goldfinch' by Donna Tartt. It not only dominated bestseller lists for months but also snagged the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2014. Tartt’s sprawling coming-of-age story, weaving art theft and moral ambiguity, struck a chord with both critics and readers. I remember picking it up after the award buzz and being utterly absorbed by its flawed yet magnetic protagonist, Theo Decker. The novel’s lush prose and emotional depth made its commercial success feel deserved—a rare overlap between literary acclaim and mass appeal. Another standout is 'All the Light We Cannot See' by Anthony Doerr, which won the Pulitzer in 2015. Its lyrical WWII narrative, alternating between a blind French girl and a German boy, was impossible to put down. What’s fascinating is how Doerr balanced poetic writing with page-turning suspense. The book lingered on bestseller lists for years, proving that 'literary' doesn’t have to mean 'inaccessible.' It’s a testament to how award-winning works can also become cultural touchstones.

I’ve noticed that many New York Times bestsellers have also snagged prestigious literary awards. 'The Goldfinch' by Donna Tartt is a prime example—it won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2014 and was a bestseller for weeks. Another standout is 'All the Light We Cannot See' by Anthony Doerr, which won the Pulitzer in 2015 and captivated readers with its poignant storytelling. Then there’s 'The Underground Railroad' by Colson Whitehead, which not only topped the bestseller list but also won the Pulitzer in 2017 and the National Book Award in 2016. 'A Visit from the Goon Squad' by Jennifer Egan, a bestseller and Pulitzer winner in 2011, is another gem. These books prove that commercial success and critical acclaim can go hand in hand, offering readers both depth and accessibility.

I’ve noticed that many New York Times bestsellers have also clinched major literary awards. 'The Goldfinch' by Donna Tartt is a prime example, winning the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2014. Its intricate storytelling and deep emotional resonance make it a standout. Another is 'All the Light We Cannot See' by Anthony Doerr, which also won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2015. This novel’s lyrical prose and poignant narrative about World War II captivated readers worldwide. 'Lincoln in the Bardo' by George Saunders, which won the Man Booker Prize in 2017, is another masterpiece. Its unique structure and exploration of grief and the afterlife are both innovative and moving. 'The Underground Railroad' by Colson Whitehead, a Pulitzer Prize winner in 2017, offers a harrowing yet essential look at America’s history of slavery. These books not only topped the charts but also left a lasting impact on the literary world, proving that commercial success and critical acclaim can go hand in hand.

I’ve always been drawn to romantic novels that not only capture hearts but also earn critical acclaim. One standout is 'The Song of Achilles' by Madeline Miller, which won the Orange Prize for Fiction. This book reimagines the love story of Achilles and Patroclus with such lyrical beauty that it’s impossible not to be moved. Another award-winning gem is 'Normal People' by Sally Rooney, which snagged the Costa Book Award. Its raw, nuanced portrayal of love and friendship resonates deeply. 'Call Me by Your Name' by André Aciman, though not initially an award magnet, gained literary recognition for its poetic exploration of desire. These books prove romance can be both emotionally gripping and artistically celebrated.

There's always that one novel each year that seems to sweep the board, and for 2017, for me, that was unquestionably George Saunders's 'Lincoln in the Bardo'. The sheer ambition of its structure—a chorus of ghostly voices in a graveyard—captured the Man Booker Prize. It felt like a genuine event in literary fiction, a book that was both formally daring and deeply moving in its exploration of grief and history. It dominated conversations for months. While others like 'Exit West' got well-deserved recognition, the Saunders novel had this momentum. It was the kind of book you saw everywhere, from bookstore displays to year-end lists, and winning the Booker really cemented its place as the defining award-winner of that season.