The Very Last List of Vivian Walker

Publisher details

Author
Megan Albany
Publisher
Hachette
Genre
Fiction
Released
09 February, 2022
ISBN
9780733646959

The Very Last List of Vivian Walker

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Synopsis

Vivian Walker is dying. This is not on her list of things to do. A darkly funny debut that proves even the most imperfect of lives is worth celebrating.

Vivian Walker's life is exceptionally ordinary. Average husband, check. Darling son, check. Refrigerator in a state of permanent disarray, check. Everything is thoroughly and frustratingly routine, even being terminally ill.

After receiving her diagnosis, Viv's family won't let her lift a finger . . . for at least a week. But once the novelty wears off, she's lucky to get a cup of tea for her trouble. In preparation for D-day, self-professed control freak Viv has made a list of essential things to do, such as decluttering the playroom and preparing her taxes. She doesn't expect to become spiritually enlightened or have any outlandish last-minute successes. All she wants is to finish her unfinished business.

As her final days unfold, Viv realises her life has become a love letter to the mundane but she still manages to keep her wicked sense of humour and cynical take on life unapologetically intact. The Very Last List of Vivian Walker will make you ugly cry, snort tea out your nose with laughter and want to embrace humanity in all its selfishness, beauty and awkwardness.

Reviews

Author Q&A: Megan Albany, Author of The Very Last List of Vivian Walker

Review | Author Related

15 February 2022

Author Q&A: Megan Albany, Author of The Very Last List of Vivian Walker

    A Darkly Funny Debut: Read a Sample Chapter of The Very Last List of Vivian Walker by Megan Albany

    Review | Extract

    9 February 2022

    A Darkly Funny Debut: Read a Sample Chapter of The Very Last List of Vivian Walker by Megan Albany

      Full of Humour and Heart: Read Our Review of The Very Last List of Vivian Walker by Megan Albany

      Review | Our Review

      7 February 2022

      Full of Humour and Heart: Read Our Review of The Very Last List of Vivian Walker by Megan Albany

        Your Preview Verdict: The Very Last List of Vivian Walker by Megan Albany

        Review | Preview

        3 February 2022

        Your Preview Verdict: The Very Last List of Vivian Walker by Megan Albany

          Megan Albany
          About the author

          Megan Albany

          Megan Albany is a proud First Nations woman of Kalkadoon and European heritage who has worked as an editor, scriptwriter, songwriter/composer and journalist. She has written for publications including The Guardian (UK), Metro (Ireland), Irish Echo and the Koori Mail. She was both a writer and editor for leading Indigenous magazine Deadly Vibe; the founding editor of InVibe magazine for Indigenous youth in custody; and was a researcher for Can It Hurt Less?, an SBS documentary into Australia's juvenile justice system. For five years she was part of the scriptwriting team for the Deadly Awards (the Deadlys), the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music, Sport, Arts and Community Awards, which screened on SBS TV, and she was one of the founding concept developers for the NITV health programs Living Strong and Move It Mob Style.Megan has a Masters in Creative Writing, has taught creative writing as part of the Disadvantaged Schools Program and has taught literacy on Pitjantjatjaran lands. The Very Last List of Vivian Walker, her first novel, was shortlisted for The Banjo Prize in 2020 and highly commended in the Australian Society of Authors 2020 Award Mentorship Program. Megan lives with her thirteen-year-old son, her husband and their moodle in the Northern Rivers of NSW.

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