The Booksellers´ Prize

Since the year 2000, Icelandic booksellers have hosted a prize where bookstore staff selects what they consider to be the best books of the year in several categories. The categories are original Icelandic novels, translated novels, original Icelandic children's book, translated children's book, poetry, biography and non-fiction. In 2012, two more categories were added; original Icelandic teenagers' books and translated teenagers' books.
2017
Best Icelandic novel
Jón Kalman Stefánsson: Saga Ástu (Ásta‘s Story)
Best novel in Icelandic translation
Han Kang: Grænmetisætan (Ch'aesikjuuija). Ingunn Snædal þýddi.
Juan Pablo Villalobos: Veisla í greninu (Fiesta en la madriguera). Translated by María Rán Guðjónsdóttir.
Best Icelandic book of poetry
Fríða Ísberg: Slitförin (Stretch Marks)
Best Icelandic Young Adult Fiction
Kristín Helga Gunnarsdóttir: Vertu ósýnilegur – flóttasaga Ishmaels (Stay Invisible – The Story of Ishmael's Flight)
Best Icelandic biography
Þorvaldur Kristinsson: Helgi – minningar Helga Tómassonar (Memoirs of Helgi Tómasson)
Best Icelandic children's book
Hjörleifur Hjartarson og Rán Flygenring: Fuglar (Birds)
Best children's book in Icelandic translation
Elena Favilli og Francesca Cavallo: Kvöldsögur fyrir uppreisnargjarnar stelpur (Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls). Translated by Magnea J. Matthíasdóttir.
Best Icelandic Non Fiction
Steinunn Kristjánsdóttir: Leitin að klaustrunum – klausturhald á Íslandi í fimm aldir (Searching for the Cloisters: Five Centuries of Cloisters in Iceland)
2016
Best Icelandic Novel
Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir: Ör (Arrow)
Best Novel in Translateion
Kristin Hannah: Næturgalinn (The Nightingale). Þýðandi: Ólöf Pétursdóttir
Best Icelandic Children's Book
Lára Garðarsdóttir: Flökkusaga (Rumour)
Best Children's Book in Translation
David Walliams og Tony Ross: Vonda frænkan (Awful Auntie). Þýðandi: Guðni Kolbeinsson
Best Icelandic Young Adult Book
Hildur Knútsdóttir: Vetrarhörkur (Hard Winter)
Best Young Adult Novel in Translation
None
Best Icelandic Book of Poetry
Sigurður Pálsson: Ljóð muna rödd (Poetry Remembers Voice)
Best Icelandic Non Fiction
Ragnar Axelsson: Andlit norðursins (Face of the North)
Best Icelandic Biography
Steinunn Sigurðardóttir: Heiða – fjallabóndinn (Heiða: the Highland Farmer)
2015
Best Icelandic Novel
Auður Jónsdóttir: Stóri skjálfti (The Big Quake)
Best Novel in Translation
Kim Leine: Spámennirnir í Botnleysufirði (Profeterne i Evighedsfjorden). Þýðandi: Jón Hallur Stefánsson
Best Icelandic Children's Book
Ragnhildur Hólmgeirsdóttir: Koparborgin (City of Copper)
og Gunnar Helgason: Mamma klikk (Mom's Crazy!)
Best Children's Book in Translation
David Walliams: Strákurinn í kjólnum (The Boy in the Dress). Þýðandi: Guðni Kolbeinsson
Best Icelandic Young Adult Book
Ragnheiður Eyjólfsdóttir: Skuggasaga – Arftakinn (Tale of Shadows: The Successor)
Best Young Adult Novel in Translation
Franziska Moll: Þegar þú vaknar (Was ich dich träumen lasse). Þýðandi: Herdís M. Hübner
Best Icelandic Book of Poetry
Linda Vilhjálmsdóttir: Frelsi (Freedom)
Best Icelandic Non Fiction
Páll Baldvin Baldvinsson: Stríðsárin 1938-1945 (The War Years 1938-1945)
Best Icelandic Biography
Sigmundur Ernir Rúnarsson: Munaðarleysinginn (The Orphan)
2014
Best Icelandic novel
Ófeigur Sigurðsson: Öræfi (Wilderness)
Best Novel in Translation
Hannah Kent: Náðarstund (Burial Rites). Translated by Jón St. Kristjánsson.
Best Icelandic Children's Book
Ævar Þór Benediktsson: Þín eigin þjóðsaga (Make Your Own Fable)
Best Children's Book in Translation
David Walliams: Rottuborgari (Ratburger). Translated by Guðni Kolbeinsson.
Best Icelandic Yount Adult Book
Bryndís Björgvinsdóttir: Hafnfirðingabrandarinn (The Hafnarfjörður Joke)
Best Young Adult Book in Translation
Rainbow Rowell: Eleanor og Park (Eleanor and Park). Translators: Marta Hlín Magnúsdóttir and Birgitta Elín Hassell.
Best Poetry Book
Kristín Eiríksdóttir: Kok (Throat)
Best Non-Fiction
Snorri Baldursson: Lífríki Íslands – Vistkerfi lands og sjávar (Flora and fauna of Iceland)
Best Biography
Helga Guðrún Johnsson: Saga þeirra, saga mín (Their Story, My Story)
og Jóhanna Kristjónsdóttir: Svarthvítir dagar (Black-and-White Days)
2013
Best Icelandic Novel
Sjón: Draumasteinn (Dream Stone)
Best Novel in Translation
Frederik Backman: Maður sem heitir Ove (A Man Named Ove). Translated by Jón Daníelsson.
Best Icelandic Children's Book
Vilhelm Anton Jónsson: Vísindabók Villa (Villi´s Science Book)
Best Children's Book in Translation
David Walliams: Amma Glæpon (Gangsta Granny). Translated by Guðni Kolbeinsson.
Best Icelandic Young Adult Book
Andri Snær Magnason: Tímakistan (The Time Vault)
Best Young Adult Book in Translation
Veronica Roth: Afbrigði (Divergent). Translated by Magnea J. Matthíasdóttir.
Best Poetry Book
Bjarki Karlsson: Árleysi alda (Moment of Ages)
Best Non-Fiction
Guðbjörg Kristjánsdóttir: Íslenska teiknibókin (The Book of Icelandic Drawings)
Best Biography
Sigrún Pálsdóttir: Sigrún og Friðgeir (Sigrún and Friðgeir)
2012
Best Icelandic Novel
Eiríkur Örn Norðdahl: Illska (Evil)
Best Novel in Translation
Jennifer Egan: Nútíminn er trunta (A Visit From the Goon Squad). Translation by Arnar Matthíasson
Best Icelandic Children's Book
Þórdís Gísladóttir: Randalín og Mundi (Randalín and Mundi)
Best Children's Book in Translation
Jakob Martin Strid: Ótrúleg saga um risastóra peru (Den utrolige historie om den kæmpestore pære). Translation by Jón St. Kristjánsson
Best Icelandic Young Adult Book
Kjartan Yngvi Björnsson and Snæbjörn Brynjarsson: Hrafnsauga (The Raven's Eye)
Best Young Adult Book in Translation
Mats Strandberg and Sara Bergmark Elfgren: Hringurinn (Cirkeln). Translation by Þórdís Gísladóttir
Best Poetry Book
Megas: Megas - textar 1966-2011 (Megas - Texts 1966-2011)
Best Non-Fiction
Dr. Gunni: Stuð vors lands
Best Biography
Ingibjörg Reynisdóttir: Gísli á Uppsölum
2011
Best Icelandic Novel
Jón Kalman Stefánsson: Hjarta mannsins (The Heart of Man)
Steinunn Sigurðardóttir: Jójó
Best Novel in Translation
Jonas Jonasson: Gamlinginn (The Old Man). Translation by Páll Valsson
Best Icelandic Children's Book
Bryndís Björgvinsdóttir: Flugan sem stöðvaði stríðið (The Fly That Stopped the War)
Best Children's Book in Translation
Biro Val (a retelling): Esóp's Fables. Translation by Steingrímur Steinþórsson
Best Poetry Book
Þorsteinn frá Hamri: Allt kom það nær (Everything Came Near)
Best Biography
Hannes Pétursson: Jarðlag í tímanum (Stratum in Time)
Best Non-Fiction
Jónas Kristjánssson: 1001 þjóðleið (1001 Roads)
2010
Best Icelandic Novel
Bergsveinn Birgisson: Svar við bréfi Helgu (A Reply to Helga's Letter)
Best Novel in Translation
Sofi Oksanen: Hreinsun (Puhdistus). Translation by Sigurður Karlsson
Best Icelandic Children's Book
Þórarinn Eldjárn: Árstíðirnar (The Seasons)
Best Children's Book in Translation
Annabel Karmel: Þú getur eldað (You Can Cook). Translation by Nanna Rögnvaldsdóttir
Best Poetry Book
Gerður Kristný: Blóðhófnir
Best Biography
Guðni Th. Jóhannesson: Gunnar Thoroddsen
Best Non-Fiction
Ragnar Axelsson (RAX): Veiðimenn norðursins (Hunters of the North)
2009
Best Icelandic Novel
Jón Kalman Stefánsson: Harmur englanna (The Angels's Grief)
Best Novel in Translation
Carlos Ruiz Zafrón: Leikur engilsins (El juego del ángel). Translation by Sigrún Á. Eiríksdóttir
Best Icelandic Children's Book
Silja Aðalsteinsdóttir: Úrval úr sögum, þjóðsögum og ævintýrum. Úr safni Jóns Árnasonar og fleiri (A Collection of Stories, Folk Tales and Fairy Tales)
Best Children's Book in Translation
Mario Ramos: Hver er sterkastur? (C'est moi le plus fort). Translation by Guðrún Vilmundardóttir
Best Poetry Book
Gyrðir Elíasson: Nokkur orð um kulnun sólar (A Few Words on the Cooling of the Sun)
Best Biography
Páll Valsson: Ævisaga Vigdísar Finnbogadóttur (Biography of Vigdís Finnbogadóttir)
Best Non-Fiction
Helgi Björnsson: Jöklar á Íslandi (Icelandic Glaciers)
2008
Best Icelandic Novel
Einar Kárason: Ofsi (Rage)
Best Novel in Translation
Markus Zusak: Bókaþjófurinn (The Book Thief). Translation by Ísak Harðarson
Best Icelandic Children's Book
Gerður Kristný: Garðurinn (The Garden)
Best Children's Book in Translation
Mario Ramos: Hver er flottastur? (C'est moi le plus beau). Translation by Guðrún Vilmundardóttir
Best Poetry Book
Páll Ólafsson: Eg skal kveða um eina þig alla mína daga: ástarljóð Páls Ólafssonar (Páll Ólafsson's Love Poetry)
Best Biography
Sigmundir Ernir Rúnarsson: Magnea
Best Non-Fiction
David Burnie: Dýrin (Animal). Translation by Guðni Kolbeinsson. Edited by Örnólfur Thorlacius
2007
Best Icelandic Novel
Jón Kalman Stefánsson: Himnaríki og helvíti (Heaven and Hell)
Best Novel in Translation
Khaled Hosseini: Þúsund bjartar sólir (A Thousand Splendid Suns). Translation by Anna María Hilmarsdóttir
Best Icelandic Children's Book
Þórarinn Eldjárn: Gælur, fælur og þvælur
Best Children's Book in Translation
J. K. Rowling: Harry Potter og dauðadjásnin (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows). Translation by Helga Haraldsdóttir
Best Poetry Book
Kristín Svava Tómasdóttir: Blótgælur
Best Biography
Vigdís Grímsdóttir: Sagan um Bíbí Ólafsdóttur (The Story of Bíbí Ólafsdóttir)
Best Non-Fiction
Sigríður Harðardóttir (ed.): Maðurinn (The Man)
2006
Best Icelandic Novel
Bragi Ólafsson: Sendiherrann (The Ambassador)
Best Novel in Translation
Vikas Swarup: Viltu vinna milljarð? (Q and A). Translation by Helga Þórarinsdóttir
Best Icelandic Children's Book
Guðrún Helgadóttir: Öðru vísi saga (A Different Kind of Story)
Best Children's Book in Translation
Ernest Drake: Drekafræði: drekabókin mikla (About Dragons: the Big Book of Dragons). Translation by Árni Óskarsson
Best Poetry Book
Ingunn Snædal: Guðlausir menn (Godless Men)
Best Biography
Halldór Guðmundsson: Skáldalíf (Poet's Life)
Best Non-Fiction
Andri Snær Magnason: Draumalandið (The Dreamland)
2005
Best Icelandic Novel
Sjón: Argóarflísin (The Whispering Muse)
Best Novel in Translation
Carlos Ruiz Zafón: Skuggi vindsins (La sombra del viento). Translation by Tómas R. Einarsson
Best Icelandic Children's Book
Áslaug Jónsdóttir: Gott kvöld (Good Evening)
Best Children's Book in Translation
Christopher Paolini: Eragon. Translation by Guðni Kolbeinsson
Best Poetry Book
Þórarinn Eldjárn: Hættir og mörk
Best Biography
Gerður Kristný: Myndin af pabba: saga Thelmu (The Picture of Dad: Thelma's Story)
Best Non-Fiction
Hans H. Hansen: Íslandsatlas (Iceland Atlas)
2004
Best Icelandic Novel
Bragi Ólafsson: Samkvæmisleikir (Party Games)
Best Novel in Translation
Mark Haddon: Furðulegt háttalag hunds um nótt (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time). Translation by Kristín R. Thorlacius
Best Icelandic Children's Book
Áslaug Jónsdóttir: Nei! sagði litla skrímslið (No! Said the Little Monster)
Best Children's Book in Translation
Julia Donaldson: Greppibarnið (The Gruffalo's Child). Translation by Þórarinn Eldjárn
Best Poetry Book
Sigfús Bjartmarsson: Andræði
Best Biography
Halldór Guðmundsson: Halldór Laxness
Best Non-Fiction
Snævarr Guðmundson: Íslenskur stjörnuatlas (Icelandic Atlas of Astronomy)
2003
Best Icelandic Novel
Ólafur Gunnarsson: Öxin og jörðin (The Axe and the Earth)
Best Novel in Translation
Dan Brown: Da Vinci lykillinn (The Da Vinci Code). Translation by Ásta S. Guðbjartsdóttir
Best Icelandic Children's Book
Sigrún Eldjárn: Týndu augun (The Lost Eyes)
Best Children's Book in Translation
Zizou Corder: Ljónadrengurinn (The Lion Boy). Translation by Guðrún Eva Mínervudóttir
Best Poetry Book
Gyrðir Elíasson: Tvífundnaland (TwiceFoundLand)
Best Biography
Þráinn Bertelsson: Einhvers konar ég (Myself and I)
Best Non-Fiction
Ýmsir höfundar: Úr torfbæjum inn í tækniöld (From the Turf into the Age of Technology)
2002
Best Icelandic Novel
Andri Snær Magnason: LoveStar
Best Novel in Translation
Houellebecq Michael: Áform (Platforme). Translation by Friðrik Rafnsson
Best Icelandic Children's Book
Þorvaldur Þorsteinsson: Blíðfinnur og svörtu teningarnir - ferðin til Targíu (Betterby and the Black Blocks - The Trip to Targia)
and
Auður Jónsdóttir: Skrýtnastur er maður sjálfur (Oneself is the Weirdest)
Best Children's Book in Translation
Philip Pullman: Skuggasjónaukinn (The Amber Spyglass). Translation by Anna Heiða Pálsdóttir
Best Poetry Book
Ingibjörg Haraldsdóttir: Hvar sem ég verð? (Wherever I Will Be)
Best Biography
Einar Kárason: KK - Þangað sem vindurinn blæs (KK: Where the Wind Blows)
Best Non-Fiction
Þór Whitehead: Ísland í hers höndum (Iceland in the time of World War II)
2001
Best Icelandic Novel
Hallgrímur Helgason: Höfundur Íslands (The Author of Iceland)
Best Novel in Translation
Hasek Jaroslav: Ævintýri góða dátans Svejk í heimsstyrjöldinni (Osudy dobrého vojáka Svejka za svetové války). Translation by Karl Ísfeld
Best Icelandic Children's Book
Þórarinn Eldjárn: Grannmeti og átvextir
Best Children's Book in Translation
Rowling, J. K. : Harry Potter og eldbikarinn (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire). Translation by Helga Haraldsdóttir
Best Poetry Book
Sigurður Pálsson: Ljóðtímaleit (Poetry Time Search)
Best Biography
Sigríður Dúna Kristmundsdóttir: Björg: ævisaga Bjargar C. Þorláksson (Björg: A Biography of Björg C. Þorláksdóttir)
Best Non-Fiction
Gunnar L. Hjálmarsson: Eru ekki allir í stuði? Rokk á Íslandi á síðustu öld (Is Everybody Having Fun? Rock and Roll in 20th Century-Iceland)
2000
Best Icelandic Novel
Einar Már Guðmundsson: Draumar á jörðu (Dreams on Earth)
Best Novel in Translation
Isabella Allende: Dóttir gæfunnar (La hija de la fortuna). Translation by Kolbrún Sveinsdóttir
Best Icelandic Children's Book
Þorvaldur Þorsteinsson: Ert þú Blíðfinnur? : ég er með mikilvæg skilaboð (Are You Blíðfinnur? : I Have an Important Message)
Best Children's Book in Translation
Rowling, J.K.: Harry Potter og fanginn frá Azkaban (Harry Potter and the prisoner from Azkaban). Translation by Helga Haraldsdóttir
Best Poetry Book
Sigurbjörg Þrastardóttir: Hnattflug (Circumnavigation)
Best Biography
No voting in the category that year
Best Non-Fiction
No voting in the category that year