Very Last List of Vivian Walker
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.
'A heartbreakingly funny, unflinching, unforgettable debut. I just loved Vivian Walker!' LIANE MORIARTY
'Will make you laugh, cry and realise that even the most ordinary life is full of extraordinary moments' MAMAMIA
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.
In preparation for D-day, Viv has made a list of essential things to do. She doesn't expect to become spiritually enlightened or have any outlandish last-minute successes. All she wants is to finish her unfinished business.
The Very Last List of Vivian Walker will make you want to embrace humanity in all its selfishness, beauty and awkwardness.
'This novel has humour and pathos in spades - I laughed and cried' THE SATURDAY PAPER
'Compelling. Beautifully relatable. A touching story' BOOKS+PUBLISHING
'Darkly funny and will leave you uplifted. Megan Albany blends the tragedy with the humorous' WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN
'A fun take on a tough topic' THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN'S WEEKLY
'A fun read that gets to the meaning of life through death' SARAH L'ESTRANGE, ABC
'Remarkably talented' WHO
'Funny and heart-breaking in equal measure, a skilfully wrought study of the difficult art of dying in our society' LIVING ARTS CANBERRA
'I cried reading this debut novel. I also laughed and despaired . . . the type of novel that you'll read quickly and that will compel you to find your family and hold them tight' READINGS
'An abundance of humour, spirit and profundity . . . an accomplished debut' BETTER READING
'Uplifting and impactful' BETTER HOMES & GARDENS
'Megan Albany has written a novel that is funny, real, and never glib; it is clear she loves all her characters' QUEENSLAND REVIEWERS COLLECTIVE
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.