Overview

Viva is obsessed with obituaries She lives to see who died. After her own life-threatening experience, she turns her obsession into a course at Lakeview City College. Fresh obituaries provide insights into profound world changes, while death appears at Viva's own front door. As Viva hits bottom, her students hijack the course and commit to building their own legacies. Raucous car washes and poetry marathons become fundraisers for the new library. Thanks to their example, and the forty-five plastic pink flamingoes that appear on her birthday, Viva begins to speak out, exposing her vulnerability, risking her job and her romance, and inspiring protests and calls for censorship. As Viva raises her own quirky voice, she commits to living every single minute to the fullest, making the most of the time represented by a single dash separating birth and death dates on a tombstone. Viva Viva! becomes her mantra. About the Author Romalyn Tilghman's award-winning debut novel, To the Stars Through Difficulties, became a book club and library favorite and a best-seller in Germany. Romalyn enjoyed a career in arts management, working with the National Endowment for the Arts, private foundations, and nonprofit organizations. She served on the board of Americans for the Arts and other national boards and review panels. She received BA and MS degrees from the University of Kansas and studied writing at UCLA.

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Reviews

""Far from a death knell, The Obit Habit is an ode to life-a vibrant celebration of all that truly matters. In fact, this novel pulsates with life on every page. The clever obituaries that open each chapter focus on the life lived not the announcement of a death. Viva's obit class ends up having a transformative effect on her college students. The many art forms woven throughout the novel-dance, music, photography, quilting, poetry, and live theater-are a tapestry of artistic expression that sings with life. And the final collaborative event of What Matters is a brilliant finale for this opus to diversity, individuality, and the preciousness of each minute we live, love, and learn. No wonder Viva finds her way through grief to such a purposeful life, rich with dear friends, found family, and the joy of unexpected love. A deeply enjoyable read."" Debra Thomas, Award-winning author of Luz and Josie and Vic ""Structured around obituaries of famous and not-so-famous folks, this charming tale embraces a topic we don't talk about enough-death, or rather, life as defined by death. Thought-provoking and uplifting, The Obit Habit helps us see life as an opportunity to make a difference, and-with death waiting in the wings-there's no time like the present."" Zoe Disigny, The Art of Traveling Strangers

Author Information

About the AuthorRomalyn Tilghman's award-winning debut novel, To the Stars Through Difficulties, became a book club and library favorite and a best-seller in Germany. Romalyn enjoyed a career in arts management, working with the National Endowment for the Arts, private foundations, and nonprofit organizations. She served on the board of Americans for the Arts and other national boards and review panels. She received BA and MS degrees from the University of Kansas and studied writing at UCLA.

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