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The 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.
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.
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.
300 pages, Paperback
First published February 9, 2022
38 people are currently reading
810 people want to read
About the author
Megan Albany
1 book13 followersMegan 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.
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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
December 6, 2021
This is a debut novel written by an author who wears many hats as a creator in her working life. I was almost in tears on reading the author’s ‘Dear Readers’ portion. As this was describing the author’s real life. Also provided was a link to a song she has written as a soundtrack to her debut novel. This was lovely, and so nice to hear the author’s real voice; something I've never experienced. So, it started very well. The backstory as told from the author is of a woman who has lost many close loved ones in just as many years. This was confronting, Megan Albany has had a lot of practise with death and I just cannot imagine that. She has created a list loving fiery, and almost cantankerous woman in Viv, who is facing her own death at a rate of knots. Ethan is her only offspring and poor Clint a husband who can’t get anything right. Her beloved lists weren’t being completed successfully; they were a sign of what was not to come to fruition. This was a tale of a real couple that never claimed to live in fairy land, and I didn't quite get the sense of a husband mourning his beloved, but on the flip side Viv wasn’t designed to be a flowery salt of the earth loveable woman. She admitted her many faults, and I think to the core her lists showed who she was. Task focused, a little cold, but then again, a mother who loved her little boy fiercely who did not have any airs and graces. She wanted this legacy to live on in Ethan. Viv in her fierceness didn’t warm to me as much as I’d have liked, and I wasn't left feeling the love. She did not suffer fools gladly, and she gave life (and death) a good hard crack. With thanks to Better Reading magazine for my advance copy review.
May 22, 2022
What's not to love about Vivian Walker. This is Megan Albany's debut novel, which I found very entertaining with many laugh out loud moments, but readers are warned to keep the tissues handy.
I'm so glad I came across this book. A well-written book that will stay with the reader long after they have read it. Highly recommended.
I'm so glad I came across this book. A well-written book that will stay with the reader long after they have read it. Highly recommended.
February 18, 2022
This book was different, well written, it is funny, witty and yes heartbreaking as we spend the last few months with Vivian Walker who is terminal with cancer, she is forty with a husband and young son. Vivian comes from a dysfunctional family and says it as it is, she has two really good friends Marsha and Sally and a sister Catherine who she is estranged from and I thoroughly enjoyed spending some time with Vivian.
When Vivian gets the diagnosis she decides that there are a few things that she needs to get sorted and as she is big on making lists that is what she does and she encourages her husband Clint and son Ethan to do the same, Vivian is a control freak and must stay that way, her family has pretty much abandoned her as most people do in these circumstances but her true friends Marsha and Sally are there for her as is of course Clint and Ethan, although Clint really does rub her the wrong way at times.
Vivian has a fabulous sense of humour and this comes out page after page as you read this one yes some things she wanted to plan maybe were a little over the top but as life slowly slips away for Vivian we get to know about her past and why maybe she is the way she is, there are some very laugh out loud moments and there are moments that I was crying big time throughout this book, it is an emotional read but one thing that comes through in this book is the love that Vivian has for everyone and the pretty good life she has had even if it didn’t start the best, she made a good life for herself and her husband and son.
This is a book that I would recommend to everyone to read although you will need a box of tissues at the ready, it is open and honest and a fabulous debut, as I said there were some very funny moments throughout and some extremely emotional ones, a very different read but one I am so glad I read.
My thanks the Hachette AU for my copy to read and review.
When Vivian gets the diagnosis she decides that there are a few things that she needs to get sorted and as she is big on making lists that is what she does and she encourages her husband Clint and son Ethan to do the same, Vivian is a control freak and must stay that way, her family has pretty much abandoned her as most people do in these circumstances but her true friends Marsha and Sally are there for her as is of course Clint and Ethan, although Clint really does rub her the wrong way at times.
Vivian has a fabulous sense of humour and this comes out page after page as you read this one yes some things she wanted to plan maybe were a little over the top but as life slowly slips away for Vivian we get to know about her past and why maybe she is the way she is, there are some very laugh out loud moments and there are moments that I was crying big time throughout this book, it is an emotional read but one thing that comes through in this book is the love that Vivian has for everyone and the pretty good life she has had even if it didn’t start the best, she made a good life for herself and her husband and son.
This is a book that I would recommend to everyone to read although you will need a box of tissues at the ready, it is open and honest and a fabulous debut, as I said there were some very funny moments throughout and some extremely emotional ones, a very different read but one I am so glad I read.
My thanks the Hachette AU for my copy to read and review.
February 28, 2022
“I have lived averagely, loved tepidly and managed to sometimes get the washing on the line before it started to smell from having been forgotten in the machine. These are not major achievements, yet I am attached to all of them.”
In The Very Last List of Vivian Walker by Megan Albany, Vivian Walker hasn’t got time to contemplate the meaning of life, she’s dying, and she has stuff to do.
Always one for lists, Vivian puts pen to paper, * Clean the fridge *Declutter the playroom *Get my tax up to date…. If she has time she’ll consider her husband’s additions: *Have sex Make love *Go for long walks in the countryside, though she’ll make the effort for her 8 year old son’s: *Play handball with Mum *Build a robot *Have a sleepover.
Emptying the fridge completely allows Vivian to check off the first item on her list, upping her morphine means she can still beat Ethan in a game of handball, she even agrees to a short walk in the park with Clinton, but the list keeps growing, and time is running out.
“…dying happens moment by moment, so there is still plenty of time to be irritated, provoked, frustrated, angry, resentful and really, really annoyed by the people who will miss you most when you are dead and gone.”
Dying characters, particularly relatively young ones, always seem to have bestowed upon them a mantle of bravery, wisdom and grace, but Albany counters that tradition with her cynical, abrasive, and short-tempered protagonist. Vivian still yells at her son when he tracks sand inside, continues to call out her husband’s (many) failings, and refuses to be the first to break in the latest petty argument with her sister. She’s not particularly likeable most of the time to be honest but she has a wicked, if also cutting, sense of humour and I mostly found her blunt, practical manner refreshing. I could relate to her passion for lists, and her concern about her husband’s capability for picking up the mental load of life admin and parenting after she’s gone. There are also moments when Vivian is kind, and she isn’t devoid of insights or regrets, though they have limited impact on how she continues to live. Details of a very difficult childhood also go some way to redeeming her, so does having earned the loyalty of her outrageous best friend, Marsha.
While I was regularly amused by Vivian’s witty observations, and sharp assessments, the gallows humour and cynicism might be quite confronting for some. So too may be the realisation that dying may not be a mystical, profound process, but rather a mundane one. Albany doesn’t shy away from the realities of Vivian’s deteriorating physical condition either, and there are no stunning epiphanies or miracles in her last moments, she’s just gone.
“She really wanted to be a good woman, a good friend, a good wife and a good mum. I think she always felt she fell short of perfect, but she was still more than enough…”
Hilarious, provocative and moving, I found The Very Last List of Vivian Walker to be a fabulous read.
In The Very Last List of Vivian Walker by Megan Albany, Vivian Walker hasn’t got time to contemplate the meaning of life, she’s dying, and she has stuff to do.
Always one for lists, Vivian puts pen to paper, * Clean the fridge *Declutter the playroom *Get my tax up to date…. If she has time she’ll consider her husband’s additions: *Have sex Make love *Go for long walks in the countryside, though she’ll make the effort for her 8 year old son’s: *Play handball with Mum *Build a robot *Have a sleepover.
Emptying the fridge completely allows Vivian to check off the first item on her list, upping her morphine means she can still beat Ethan in a game of handball, she even agrees to a short walk in the park with Clinton, but the list keeps growing, and time is running out.
“…dying happens moment by moment, so there is still plenty of time to be irritated, provoked, frustrated, angry, resentful and really, really annoyed by the people who will miss you most when you are dead and gone.”
Dying characters, particularly relatively young ones, always seem to have bestowed upon them a mantle of bravery, wisdom and grace, but Albany counters that tradition with her cynical, abrasive, and short-tempered protagonist. Vivian still yells at her son when he tracks sand inside, continues to call out her husband’s (many) failings, and refuses to be the first to break in the latest petty argument with her sister. She’s not particularly likeable most of the time to be honest but she has a wicked, if also cutting, sense of humour and I mostly found her blunt, practical manner refreshing. I could relate to her passion for lists, and her concern about her husband’s capability for picking up the mental load of life admin and parenting after she’s gone. There are also moments when Vivian is kind, and she isn’t devoid of insights or regrets, though they have limited impact on how she continues to live. Details of a very difficult childhood also go some way to redeeming her, so does having earned the loyalty of her outrageous best friend, Marsha.
While I was regularly amused by Vivian’s witty observations, and sharp assessments, the gallows humour and cynicism might be quite confronting for some. So too may be the realisation that dying may not be a mystical, profound process, but rather a mundane one. Albany doesn’t shy away from the realities of Vivian’s deteriorating physical condition either, and there are no stunning epiphanies or miracles in her last moments, she’s just gone.
“She really wanted to be a good woman, a good friend, a good wife and a good mum. I think she always felt she fell short of perfect, but she was still more than enough…”
Hilarious, provocative and moving, I found The Very Last List of Vivian Walker to be a fabulous read.
July 27, 2025
*https://www.instagram.com/mrsb_book_r...
The Very Last List of Vivian Walker is Megan Albany’s moving debut novel which was highly commended in the Australian Society of Authors 2020 Award Mentorship Program and shortlisted for the Banjo Prize in 2020. A story that opens up a meaningful conversation about the realities of dealing with terminal illness, Albany’s first book also celebrates the beautiful and messy moments of everyday life.
Megan Albany’s debut introduces title protagonist Vivian Walker, a woman who knows she doesn’t have long left to live. Her "very last list" becomes an important part of the lead working to unlock what truly matters in life. In following this difficult path, we see Vivian make important steps to prepare her young son for a life without her. We also see Vivian try to make peace with her past. We witness her attempts to reconcile friendships, deal with estranged family problems, resolve marital tensions and deal with everything from palliative care to unfinished tax paperwork. This was a surprising topic but very normal!
What makes this novel stand out is its tone. Vivian’s voice is loud and original, it is also laced with dark humour, honesty and tender insight. It switches between funny moments and gut-wrenching emotional reflection sequences. Albany opens up the floodgates in terms of dying and the emotional heaviness of the situation. This first time author also finds moments of lightness in the wake of impending loss to help the story to feel more authentic.
As Vivian’s end of life approached, I found myself filled with a churning dread. I knew what was coming, but I didn’t want Vivian to suffer anymore. Her story reminds us of the fragility of life and how we are compelled to seek meaning even in our final moments.
This was a buddy read with @bmichie31 (thank you so much for reading with me) that left a lasting impression. This reading experience prompted tears and laughter, but also discussions about our own priorities, relationships and what we might one day put on our own "final list." A fine debut by Megan Albany.
4 stars. Thank you to @hachetteaus
The Very Last List of Vivian Walker is Megan Albany’s moving debut novel which was highly commended in the Australian Society of Authors 2020 Award Mentorship Program and shortlisted for the Banjo Prize in 2020. A story that opens up a meaningful conversation about the realities of dealing with terminal illness, Albany’s first book also celebrates the beautiful and messy moments of everyday life.
Megan Albany’s debut introduces title protagonist Vivian Walker, a woman who knows she doesn’t have long left to live. Her "very last list" becomes an important part of the lead working to unlock what truly matters in life. In following this difficult path, we see Vivian make important steps to prepare her young son for a life without her. We also see Vivian try to make peace with her past. We witness her attempts to reconcile friendships, deal with estranged family problems, resolve marital tensions and deal with everything from palliative care to unfinished tax paperwork. This was a surprising topic but very normal!
What makes this novel stand out is its tone. Vivian’s voice is loud and original, it is also laced with dark humour, honesty and tender insight. It switches between funny moments and gut-wrenching emotional reflection sequences. Albany opens up the floodgates in terms of dying and the emotional heaviness of the situation. This first time author also finds moments of lightness in the wake of impending loss to help the story to feel more authentic.
As Vivian’s end of life approached, I found myself filled with a churning dread. I knew what was coming, but I didn’t want Vivian to suffer anymore. Her story reminds us of the fragility of life and how we are compelled to seek meaning even in our final moments.
This was a buddy read with @bmichie31 (thank you so much for reading with me) that left a lasting impression. This reading experience prompted tears and laughter, but also discussions about our own priorities, relationships and what we might one day put on our own "final list." A fine debut by Megan Albany.
4 stars. Thank you to @hachetteaus
January 22, 2022
Thank you Hachette for sending us a copy to read and review.
Life is full of joys and sorrows.
It’s curb balls like cancer, allows certain planning as death is imminent and gives time to prepare.
Writing lists is a compulsion many enjoy including myself.
Lists and death in this book are where the two extremes meet, providing sombre and sobering moments lightened with comedic threads.
Viv Walker is dying.
Compiling lists for herself, her husband and her young son is a way fulfilling her last wishes and easing them into life without her.
The items range from the practical to the loving.
She tackles the list one by one as her health declines.
Although suffering she puts on a brave face and for the sake of her son present normality wherever possible.
An estrangement between her sister adding another sad dynamic.
I devoured this fascinating read in a night and was caught up in the fastidious routine Viv had in achieving her goals.
At times I was so saddened and reminisced about losing loved ones in the same manner and at other times laughed out loud as I could see myself doing similar.
Her acceptance, her undying love for her family and attitude made this emotional rollercoaster entertaining and thought provoking.
An awesome debut novel.
Life is full of joys and sorrows.
It’s curb balls like cancer, allows certain planning as death is imminent and gives time to prepare.
Writing lists is a compulsion many enjoy including myself.
Lists and death in this book are where the two extremes meet, providing sombre and sobering moments lightened with comedic threads.
Viv Walker is dying.
Compiling lists for herself, her husband and her young son is a way fulfilling her last wishes and easing them into life without her.
The items range from the practical to the loving.
She tackles the list one by one as her health declines.
Although suffering she puts on a brave face and for the sake of her son present normality wherever possible.
An estrangement between her sister adding another sad dynamic.
I devoured this fascinating read in a night and was caught up in the fastidious routine Viv had in achieving her goals.
At times I was so saddened and reminisced about losing loved ones in the same manner and at other times laughed out loud as I could see myself doing similar.
Her acceptance, her undying love for her family and attitude made this emotional rollercoaster entertaining and thought provoking.
An awesome debut novel.
March 30, 2022
DNF @ 44%. I tried so hard to get through this, but I was on the struggle bus the whole time. For a rather short novel, this seemed to have thousands of pages. The main character is dying (obviously, hence the title) and there was virtually no plot by 44% other than her talking about death and dying. There was, to my knowledge, no goal she was trying to meet, no action, nothing. Very hum-drum and monotonous activities led me to dread picking this book up! I couldn't even relate to the characters or the humor everyone seemed to rave about. I didn't laugh as much as I cringed and gritted my teeth. I'd definitely recommend steering clear of this one. You'll thank me later, I promise. :)
August 31, 2022
I love the concept but idk the relationship between husband and wife seemed so bleak and the portrayal of fat characters was just as bleak. Why do fat characters always chortle!? It's so bizarre I never see that written for a thin character
February 22, 2022
Loved the yoga instructor bit. A very honest read.
May 3, 2022
A beautiful book which depicts death as both ordinary and emotional. If that sounds like a delicate balance, it is – but Albany pulls it off effortlessly.
February 8, 2022
‘We’re also trying to pretend I have lived some sort of incredible life, like I was supposed to, so we can make sense of why I was on the planet in the first place.’
I am a self confessed list maker so I was always going to be drawn to this book. I mean, what would your final list on this earth include? This book is both reflective and left of centre in its approach to this difficult topic.
Author Megan takes you on a journey with Vivian and her lists as her life is coming to an end because of cancer. I am sure you can appreciate that there is most definitely a certain amount of sadness associated with this story. However Vivian, for a variety of reasons, will make you laugh at times, make you cry or cringe at others. Yet through it all the reader will discover some very profound contemplations about life and living.
This book certainly packs a punch and puts all the good, bad and ugly on display for all to read. Dying is not celebrated and Megan includes it all in a very honest and raw approach lined with dark satire and humour. Vivian is one hundred percent a no nonsense character and calls a spade a spade (and a lot of other things to boot!) So depending on where you stand, the reader will either understand, cringe or find it refreshing. At times, despite her sad situation, Vivian is most unlikeable and treats those around her abysmally (Clint, aka husband, is front and centre). Yet, given her upbringing and diagnosis, does it make it understandable?
What I take away from this book is some reflections that I found to be both profound and confronting. This is a book about self, family and those nearest and dearest. This is also a book that is a gift (dare I say ‘list’) from someone who, facing death, aims to reconcile the here and the hereafter.
‘With time not on my side, I’ve still had the odd moment when I’ve considered stuffing everything into a backpack …. to see where life might take me for my final chapter … instead I am enjoying a chai and a chocolate brownie on a sunny day … I feel how much I am really, really enjoying it. It’s the small things they say, and today, for once, they are right.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
I am a self confessed list maker so I was always going to be drawn to this book. I mean, what would your final list on this earth include? This book is both reflective and left of centre in its approach to this difficult topic.
Author Megan takes you on a journey with Vivian and her lists as her life is coming to an end because of cancer. I am sure you can appreciate that there is most definitely a certain amount of sadness associated with this story. However Vivian, for a variety of reasons, will make you laugh at times, make you cry or cringe at others. Yet through it all the reader will discover some very profound contemplations about life and living.
This book certainly packs a punch and puts all the good, bad and ugly on display for all to read. Dying is not celebrated and Megan includes it all in a very honest and raw approach lined with dark satire and humour. Vivian is one hundred percent a no nonsense character and calls a spade a spade (and a lot of other things to boot!) So depending on where you stand, the reader will either understand, cringe or find it refreshing. At times, despite her sad situation, Vivian is most unlikeable and treats those around her abysmally (Clint, aka husband, is front and centre). Yet, given her upbringing and diagnosis, does it make it understandable?
What I take away from this book is some reflections that I found to be both profound and confronting. This is a book about self, family and those nearest and dearest. This is also a book that is a gift (dare I say ‘list’) from someone who, facing death, aims to reconcile the here and the hereafter.
‘With time not on my side, I’ve still had the odd moment when I’ve considered stuffing everything into a backpack …. to see where life might take me for my final chapter … instead I am enjoying a chai and a chocolate brownie on a sunny day … I feel how much I am really, really enjoying it. It’s the small things they say, and today, for once, they are right.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
June 29, 2022
Wow, what a book! This was a very Australian book, written by a woman with a very dark sense of humour. So many things resonated with me; I could see my childhood here, and things that my mother did as well. I was actually reading this book whilst waiting to have spinal surgery, and in hospital afterwards. Perhaps not the right kind of reading material, perhaps, but it really made me think.
Viv is a woman who is pretty average. She struggles to keep on top of things, hence the list making (this I could relate to as well). She has a nice husband who is pretty clueless and a gorgeous little boy who makes all her days better. She is characterised as bossy, many times, in this book but I am not sure that she is, per se. Since she is dying, she is trying to make sure that things are done but because her husband is clueless and her son very young, it is still up to HER to organise everything, even when she just isn't physically up to it. I can relate to that too. My son is clueless, but kind, and I found myself e-mailing him instructions from hospital, just when it would have been nice to just relax and heal. Not everyone has a partner who can swoop in and take over or be supportive, and it is nice that this family unit is actually a bit more realistic.
There were times during the reading of this novel when I laughed out loud (yes, even whilst in HDU!), and other times when I was hard pressed not to cry.
I am an RN and a volunteer for a local hospice. I no stranger to the dying process e.g. as a medical professional and also as a voluntary support to those undergoing the process, but I found the descriptions of what Viv went through confronting, nevertheless. Although, beautifully described.
4.5 stars from me.
Viv is a woman who is pretty average. She struggles to keep on top of things, hence the list making (this I could relate to as well). She has a nice husband who is pretty clueless and a gorgeous little boy who makes all her days better. She is characterised as bossy, many times, in this book but I am not sure that she is, per se. Since she is dying, she is trying to make sure that things are done but because her husband is clueless and her son very young, it is still up to HER to organise everything, even when she just isn't physically up to it. I can relate to that too. My son is clueless, but kind, and I found myself e-mailing him instructions from hospital, just when it would have been nice to just relax and heal. Not everyone has a partner who can swoop in and take over or be supportive, and it is nice that this family unit is actually a bit more realistic.
There were times during the reading of this novel when I laughed out loud (yes, even whilst in HDU!), and other times when I was hard pressed not to cry.
I am an RN and a volunteer for a local hospice. I no stranger to the dying process e.g. as a medical professional and also as a voluntary support to those undergoing the process, but I found the descriptions of what Viv went through confronting, nevertheless. Although, beautifully described.
4.5 stars from me.
December 22, 2024
Cried (sobbed) for the last 50 pages. An interesting portrayal of how individualised the experience of grieving is.
May 15, 2022
The premise of the book really appealed to me & I was completely prepared for an emotional and heartwarming read, unfortunately, it was none of those things.
Viv leads a fairly mundane life. She's married to, but not really in love with, Clint and they have a sweet 8yr old boy Ethan.
Viv doesn't appear as though she has any zest for making the most of the time she has left, or a goal she is working towards before she dies. Instead, Viv has a list of pointless tasks she focuses on, like cleaning the fridge or doing her taxes. None of these actions made sense to me, as a wife and a mother I just couldn't wrap my head or heart around the fact Viv cared so little about making time for her husband and son, but rather she couldn't wait to be gone so she could "enjoy" the peace.
Throughout the buddy read, it seemed the three of us had a collective opinion that the MC is a bit of a b!tch and because of her (extremely) dry sense of humour and absolute lack of regard for her husband or son, I was not at all invested in a story of her final days.
I DNF this one at about a 3rd of the way through, which is something I rarely do. There was no real plot or purpose behind anything Viv did and all the characters were underwhelming.
Before I made the decision to wrap this one up, I did skip through and read a few chapters further in, as well as the final few to get more context, but in the end, it just wasn't for me. I have read mixed reviews and a lot of people have said they loved this for though, so maybe you will connect with it differently.
Viv leads a fairly mundane life. She's married to, but not really in love with, Clint and they have a sweet 8yr old boy Ethan.
Viv doesn't appear as though she has any zest for making the most of the time she has left, or a goal she is working towards before she dies. Instead, Viv has a list of pointless tasks she focuses on, like cleaning the fridge or doing her taxes. None of these actions made sense to me, as a wife and a mother I just couldn't wrap my head or heart around the fact Viv cared so little about making time for her husband and son, but rather she couldn't wait to be gone so she could "enjoy" the peace.
Throughout the buddy read, it seemed the three of us had a collective opinion that the MC is a bit of a b!tch and because of her (extremely) dry sense of humour and absolute lack of regard for her husband or son, I was not at all invested in a story of her final days.
I DNF this one at about a 3rd of the way through, which is something I rarely do. There was no real plot or purpose behind anything Viv did and all the characters were underwhelming.
Before I made the decision to wrap this one up, I did skip through and read a few chapters further in, as well as the final few to get more context, but in the end, it just wasn't for me. I have read mixed reviews and a lot of people have said they loved this for though, so maybe you will connect with it differently.
April 4, 2022
A big thanks to Hachette for sending this book over.
Wow, Megan Albany sure has talent. As a young reader ,The Very Last List Of Vivian Walker shone a whole new light on battling cancer. This heartfelt tale made me laugh and cry, yet didn’t once leave me regretting my book choice, by far one of the most engaging stories I have read in a long time.
Cancer patient, Vivian walker is going through a downhill stage of her life. With the clock ticking, Vivian is trying to finish her last list to make it to the end knowing she has achieved something, but not skydiving and rock climbing kind of things, more like clean the house and mow the lawn. Megan uses humour to numb the pain of cancer, and the characters are perfect for enlightening the effect cancer has on people and there loved ones. Switching perspectives between her and her husband, Clint, you will truly feel as though you are watching her life unravel right before your very eyes, this is a must read and goes in my favourites.
Wow, Megan Albany sure has talent. As a young reader ,The Very Last List Of Vivian Walker shone a whole new light on battling cancer. This heartfelt tale made me laugh and cry, yet didn’t once leave me regretting my book choice, by far one of the most engaging stories I have read in a long time.
Cancer patient, Vivian walker is going through a downhill stage of her life. With the clock ticking, Vivian is trying to finish her last list to make it to the end knowing she has achieved something, but not skydiving and rock climbing kind of things, more like clean the house and mow the lawn. Megan uses humour to numb the pain of cancer, and the characters are perfect for enlightening the effect cancer has on people and there loved ones. Switching perspectives between her and her husband, Clint, you will truly feel as though you are watching her life unravel right before your very eyes, this is a must read and goes in my favourites.
August 29, 2022
This book was a delight to read. It does deal with some very emotional and deep subject matter, however it is written so wonderfully. It's full of hope, laughs, sadness, regret, and just sheer joy. Some moments will definitely hit you lit a freight train, but the moments of joy in this book are a real delight.
I don't know how Megan Albany found the courage to write this book. It would be extremely difficult to do, and to also write it in this way. Our main character, Vivian, is not always lovable, but you can't help but engage with her in every scene. She throws away all the filters and gives us her honest opinion on everything, including her husband. She is actually quite an amazingly written character, because while she's certainly rough around the edges, her humanity is so potent in this story.
It's a book that will stay with you for a long time. I know it will stay with me, as I ponder how I would react if faced with the same situation.
I don't know how Megan Albany found the courage to write this book. It would be extremely difficult to do, and to also write it in this way. Our main character, Vivian, is not always lovable, but you can't help but engage with her in every scene. She throws away all the filters and gives us her honest opinion on everything, including her husband. She is actually quite an amazingly written character, because while she's certainly rough around the edges, her humanity is so potent in this story.
It's a book that will stay with you for a long time. I know it will stay with me, as I ponder how I would react if faced with the same situation.
December 13, 2021
I was lucky to be given this book to read and review prior to its release and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
The familiar language made it an ease to read. I found it uplifting, hilarious and very sad, all wrapped up in one.
As a list maker myself I could very much relate to Vivian, the main character who desperately tried to achieve everything on her ever-evolving list.
Vivian a courageous woman who didn’t like to cry, liked loose leaf tea in a pot and adored her son Ethan.
The book has scatterings of terrific quotes which made me laugh out loud.
The familiar language made it an ease to read. I found it uplifting, hilarious and very sad, all wrapped up in one.
As a list maker myself I could very much relate to Vivian, the main character who desperately tried to achieve everything on her ever-evolving list.
Vivian a courageous woman who didn’t like to cry, liked loose leaf tea in a pot and adored her son Ethan.
The book has scatterings of terrific quotes which made me laugh out loud.
February 20, 2022
Despite the book being about a woman with terminal cancer, the book was hilarious with so many lol moments. I loved it. There was some sad moments, but the author did it so well that I did not lose it (I usually do) I just loved it
April 19, 2024
I loved how tangible the characters felt! A sad but nice read
February 15, 2022
This is a book about a 40 year old woman who discovers she is dying of cancer. She sets about completing a series of tasks on her to do lists to prepare herself and her family for her death – things like declutter the playroom and sand the French doors in the bedroom! Well, sorting out the will is probably more important. But what is also important is helping her son Ethan and husband Clint to come to terms with the death.
The Very Last List of Vivian Walker by Megan Albany is a debut and was billed as being darkly funny. In reality I found the humour to be more light hearted than I expected. While there were funny moments at other times you feel sadness as Viv begins to accept her death and what this will do to her family.
Over the course of the book you learn about Vivian and her relationships with her family and friends. She feels as though she has lived a pretty mundane life with an ordinary marriage and she is quite negative about Clint as a result. And I struggled with this a bit. I found Viv's characterisation was a bit too much the brusque, grumpy woman with a heart of gold. Clint was portrayed as a bumbling inept husband that had no clue about how to contribute and Viv seemed to make him feel like he was useless and that’s the way he saw himself. It was kind of relatable but also infuriatingly exaggerated.
I thought the structure of the book was well done with the chapters each having a focus on one item on Viv’s lists which did have a good flow. Finally I appreciated the poignant moments at the end where the author shows us the reality of dying. Discovering that the book was inspired by the death of her friend who organised her funeral and did all her life admin right to the end was touching.
Overall it was a light-hearted read that leaves you with some food for thought about coming to terms with death.
Thank you @hachetteaus for my #gifted copy.
The Very Last List of Vivian Walker by Megan Albany is a debut and was billed as being darkly funny. In reality I found the humour to be more light hearted than I expected. While there were funny moments at other times you feel sadness as Viv begins to accept her death and what this will do to her family.
Over the course of the book you learn about Vivian and her relationships with her family and friends. She feels as though she has lived a pretty mundane life with an ordinary marriage and she is quite negative about Clint as a result. And I struggled with this a bit. I found Viv's characterisation was a bit too much the brusque, grumpy woman with a heart of gold. Clint was portrayed as a bumbling inept husband that had no clue about how to contribute and Viv seemed to make him feel like he was useless and that’s the way he saw himself. It was kind of relatable but also infuriatingly exaggerated.
I thought the structure of the book was well done with the chapters each having a focus on one item on Viv’s lists which did have a good flow. Finally I appreciated the poignant moments at the end where the author shows us the reality of dying. Discovering that the book was inspired by the death of her friend who organised her funeral and did all her life admin right to the end was touching.
Overall it was a light-hearted read that leaves you with some food for thought about coming to terms with death.
Thank you @hachetteaus for my #gifted copy.
March 10, 2023
This was refreshingly realistic! Although, Vivian (Viv) Walker won't be for everyone -- she's cynical, blunt, and darkly humorous -- I kinda loved her. She is so unashamedly herself. Or as Clint, her husband, describes her "she could be as soft as she was hard." Viv had a difficult childhood which lead to her protecting herself by not letting other people get close and wearing her sarcasm as a protective layer. It's also the way that she copes with her terminal diagnosis by finding the funny side along with her gems of friends Marsha and Sally. This is predominantly a character driven novel as we join Viv in her last few months of 'life admin'. Dying is mundane and happens "moment by moment" as Viv realises and may not be a profound experience. Yet, there is still many heart warming moments in this hilarous novel which was a moving read.
September 11, 2023
Vivian Walker is dying of cancer and, in her last few months, she's determined to get through her List. This is a book about dying and what's important in life but it's also filled with humour.
To be honest, I didn't like Viv much. She treated her husband like dirt the whole time and it was clear that it wasn't only because she was dying. I didn't understand their relationship. She seemed like a bitter, angry person which I'm sure I would be too if I was dying at 40 with an 8-year-old son. But it seemed from the backstory that she was ALWAYS that way inclined.
To be honest, I didn't like Viv much. She treated her husband like dirt the whole time and it was clear that it wasn't only because she was dying. I didn't understand their relationship. She seemed like a bitter, angry person which I'm sure I would be too if I was dying at 40 with an 8-year-old son. But it seemed from the backstory that she was ALWAYS that way inclined.
Read
February 19, 2022This book is just so very real and 'normal.'
Viv is a mother and wife who is in the very last stages of cancer and is dying. But rather than cause a fuss she is pretty much just getting on with it.
She doesn't at any point do any wild bucket list activities instead she is writing lists of stuff that has to be done...everyday jobs like decluttering a playroom and choosing funeral songs.
Each chapter moves between Viv and her husband Clint's POV, which gives us clear insight into what is happening to not only Viv but those closest to her.
You can easily like Viv because she is just an average person trying to deal with what is going on. However, the further in you read and the more you get to know her and her family and friends the sadder it becomes. It's as if you can feel the end coming but you don't want to read on because you know the ending.
Albany has crafted a fabulous character in Viv who is relatable, likeable and one that you respect for her decisions and her dignity. She's also surrounded by a caring family and awesome friends who you just adore.
Well done.
This was sent to me by Hachette in exchange for an honest review thank -you.
Viv is a mother and wife who is in the very last stages of cancer and is dying. But rather than cause a fuss she is pretty much just getting on with it.
She doesn't at any point do any wild bucket list activities instead she is writing lists of stuff that has to be done...everyday jobs like decluttering a playroom and choosing funeral songs.
Each chapter moves between Viv and her husband Clint's POV, which gives us clear insight into what is happening to not only Viv but those closest to her.
You can easily like Viv because she is just an average person trying to deal with what is going on. However, the further in you read and the more you get to know her and her family and friends the sadder it becomes. It's as if you can feel the end coming but you don't want to read on because you know the ending.
Albany has crafted a fabulous character in Viv who is relatable, likeable and one that you respect for her decisions and her dignity. She's also surrounded by a caring family and awesome friends who you just adore.
Well done.
This was sent to me by Hachette in exchange for an honest review thank -you.
June 7, 2022
A sharp, sarcastic novel about a very real woman facing death. This is not inspiration porn; it's not for people who want to read uplifting, message filled books. It's for people with messy lives; sharp tongues and bitter feuds with families. It's a novel that takes an ordinary woman who has never achieved much and finds herself dying of cancer. Her list is not a bucket list; it's a list of mundane things she thinks she should do before her death. Vivian says the things people don't say aloud - that their marriage has dissolved into the snoring and boring. That people face death not heroically, not pondering on how they should have worked less and sung in the rain more. They face death with anger and bitterness and worrying about the colour of their french doors.
A marmite book - you'll love it or hate it, there's no in between with this story or with Vivian.
A marmite book - you'll love it or hate it, there's no in between with this story or with Vivian.
May 9, 2023
Took so long to finish because it scared the hell out of me. Megan Albany wrote this story and easily I could relate and at times I felt I was the main character. Not because my name is also Viv, but I felt like the character Viv acted like I would, say similar things and do similar things. I’m sad for Viv. She makes me realise I got to start living.
December 15, 2024
This book is a rare gem. You know the end before you read the start.
Vivienne is dying. This well written story brought me to tears for the first time in years as we follow the lists of Vivienne and her young son and her husband.
The characters are so well drawn that you feel like you know someone just like them, the charm of the day to day minutia as you move through the end of life story of someone both perfectly ordinary and yet really special.
Vivienne is dying. This well written story brought me to tears for the first time in years as we follow the lists of Vivienne and her young son and her husband.
The characters are so well drawn that you feel like you know someone just like them, the charm of the day to day minutia as you move through the end of life story of someone both perfectly ordinary and yet really special.
February 14, 2022
Viv is, as her husband Clint uncharacteristically observes, rubbed raw by life; and she tends to rub those around her the wrong way too. Her family is dysfunctional, her relationship just-functional and she writes endless lists to distract herself from her failed attempts to achieve something with her life before she literally ceases to function: too young, too soon, with too-much-still-to-do.
Viv could quickly become a very unlikeable protagonist, but in Megan Albany's capable hands, she shines with humour and honesty as she confronts her mortality the way she has confronted everything in her life, head-on at full tilt.
Viv could quickly become a very unlikeable protagonist, but in Megan Albany's capable hands, she shines with humour and honesty as she confronts her mortality the way she has confronted everything in her life, head-on at full tilt.
July 21, 2024
A funny but poignant look at death before your time, very entertaining. Check tor trigger warnings before reading
November 29, 2023
Loved this book. She was such a familiar character so I feel I got Viv. Sad, tough, heart breaking.
dnf
September 1, 2025Unfortunately a DNF at 80 pages in. The idea of this story intrigued me but the execution was not it
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