The Bestselling Fiction Books of 2015 in the U.S. Are Sort of Depressing

Publishers Weekly has put out its bestselling print fiction books of 2015, and the results land somewhere in the dark nether regions between “kinda sad” and “outright bleak.” Let’s run down the list.

1. Go Set a Watchman, Harper Lee, 1.59 million copies

Here we have a “sequel” to a book published in 1960 that is actually a first draft of that book, and not even a very good one. Atticus Finch, once-beloved, is a racist now, and oh, by the way, it’s pretty possible (read: Likely) that this so-called new book was “discovered” under hugely suspicious circumstances by a lawyer who possibly took advantage of Harper Lee’s old age and poor health after her sister and long-time protector Alice died.

2. Grey, E. L. James, 1.41 million copies

Poorly written sadistic sex acts, now told from the male point of view!

3. The Girl on the Train,, Paula Hawkins, 1.35 million copies

Gone Girl part two, ie: Ugh, I guess I have to do this book thing for a second before I can become a blockbuster movie. Let’s get this over with.

4. All the Light We Cannot See, Anthony Doerr, 1.01 million copies

Pulitzer Prize winner! Nothing to see here.

5. The Martian, Andy Weir, 673,000 copies

Fine, this one gets a pass too, if only for Weir’s obsessive attention to detail.