Author(s): Megan Albany

Staff Picks- Read our reviews | Fiction

'This novel has humour and pathos in spades - I laughed and cried' Cindy MacDonald, THE SATURDAY PAPER

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.

Now that I've got cancer, I know I should be letting go and just being in the moment with my child but, seriously, what mother has got time to spend with their kids?

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.

A funny, light-hearted story about dying – from the perspective of the person about to 'shuffle off this mortal coil'. Vivian is something of a control freak, even though she has a terminal illness – a bit of a 'my way or the highway' sort of person. So...an obvious 'list maker' not only for herself but her long-suffering husband Clint, who does not seem able to complete any of his listed jobs (at least to Vivian’s satisfaction). She also makes lists for her beloved young son, Ethan, although she is much more forgiving of his non completion of tasks. Then of course, things come up that are NOT on anyone’s list IE. attend someone else’s funeral, which of course Vivian does with accompanying amusing commentary on how the event went. What she would do for her own funeral (use the same caterers) and not do (require everyone attending the service to wear white, thereby making the whole event very 'Brides of Christ'). Although a fun, easy read – Vivian is exceedingly witty - there are some very valid observations about how people behave around the dying and an undercurrent of sadness at her leaving her family. A clever, very enjoyable, witty read. Prue