LoveReading Says
In reading The Last Days of Roger Federer I found myself wondering if I was in a puzzle rather than a book. The theme is ‘endings', or more often ‘giving up’ in which Geoff Dyer explores his many passions - one of which is tennis - by studying how those people whose work he has devoted so much time to have gone about the business of bringing their careers to a conclusion. Federer, Dylan, Turner, Coltrane.. and so on, a fabulous list of iconic figures from the worlds of sport and art (which seem to merge here) are investigated in a collection of short and witty pieces. The structure of the book is in itself intriguing because, I suppose, a book which analyses endings might aim to avoid a conventional beginning/ middle/ end format. Instead we have four sections titled only by a quote, within which the writings are simply numbered. It would seem to be a catalogue of thoughts and essays until you realise there is no obvious order to it, as though each piece has been drawn at random from a hat of torn up notebooks. And on top of that the topics themselves are revisited again and again like thoughts swirling in your head, nagging away and hanging on. And always there is an elephant in the room, though Dyer does not entirely avoid the subject of his own ending as a writer it was constantly on my mind while reading the book that this is the underlying point and something which weighs upon us all. I hope The Last Days of Roger Federer is not the final such work by this remarkable writer, but should it turn out to be, what an even cleverer thing it is.
Greg Hackett
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The Last Days of Roger Federer Synopsis
Much attention has been paid to so-called late style - but what about last style? When does last begin? How early is late? When does the end set in?
In this endlessly stimulating investigation, Geoff Dyer sets his own encounter with late middle age against the last days and last achievements of writers, painters, athletes and musicians who've mattered to him throughout his life. With a playful charm and penetrating intelligence, he examines Friedrich Nietzsche's breakdown in Turin, Bob Dylan's reinventions of old songs, J.M.W. Turner's paintings of abstracted light, John Coltrane's cosmic melodies, Jean Rhys's return from the dead (while still alive) and Beethoven's final quartets - and considers the intensifications and modifications of experience that come when an ending is within sight. Oh, and there's stuff about Roger Federer and tennis too.
This book on last things - written while life as we know it seemed to be coming to an end - is also about how to go on living with art and beauty, on the entrancing effect and sudden illumination that an Art Pepper solo or an Annie Dillard reflection can engender in even the most jaded sensibilities. Blending criticism, memoir and repartee into something entirely new, The Last Days of Roger Federer is a summation of Dyer's passions and the perfect introduction to his sly and joyous work.
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9781838855772 |
| Publication date: |
4th May 2023 |
| Author: |
Geoff Dyer |
| Publisher: |
Canongate Books |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pagination: |
304 pages |
| Primary Genre |
Biographies & Autobiographies
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| Other Genres: |
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| Recommendations: |
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Geoff Dyer Press Reviews
Tennis, jazz, Dylan, movies, TV, drugs, Nietzsche, Beethoven. So, why am I laughing? Because Geoff Dyer once again melds commentary and observation with intellect and wit. Bouncing between criticism and memoir, Dyer is one of the few writers whose paragraphs I can immediately reread and get more from. The twists, turns, and delights abound, and when you finally put the book down you think, Oh, yes, I've always been this smart, haven't I? -- STEVE MARTIN
Most authors use language to write about things. Dyer uses things to write about language. He's a clever clogs but he's one of us at the same time. Genius -- SIMON ARMITAGE
Who can make the world new again like Geoff Dyer? For the low, low price of a book, he will rearrange the art on the walls of your memory so that you might see it again, as if for the first time. The Last Days of Roger Federer is an inspired cultural and personal meditation as well as an unsurprising delight. To read it is to feel relief that, despite Dyer's contention that his life's theme is 'giving up', he hasn't -- SLOANE CROSLEY
More than its title would suggest, The Last Days of Roger Federer is an engaging series of meditations on mental and physical sunsets in the lives of painters, musicians, philosophers, poets, boxers, and of course tennis players. Dyer the stylist is at the top of his game here, serving up conundrums, paradoxes, logical binds, and other cerebral delights. Even his syntax is witty. This generous offering of Dyer's insightful, often hilarious, take on art, life and sports is a feast for his readers -- BILLY COLLINS
A wonderfully original writer. Here [Dyer] uses the last days of Roger Federer's tennis career as a jumping-off point for an examination of late style and last works, ranging from JMW Turner and Jean Rhys to Bob Dylan and John Coltrane -The Times, 2022 Highlights
Geoff Dyer's wry meditations on mortality and late style have a dazzling way of dispelling gloom. Nietzsche and the Turin horse, vaporised Turner, dolorous Dylan, antics on courts and at Burning Man, Dyer's Last Days had me laughing aloud, a sure signal of deft seriousness. What is there to say except if this is late Dyer, it's great Dyer -- LISA APPIGNANESI
Just like Roger Federer's backhand, Geoff Dyer's swing is a thing of beauty, complete with his signature follow through. He captures so much, touches so much and amuses the while. This form-blending book is extremely smart, wise, and simply plain fun. I am smarter for having read it. This is a great book -- PERCIVAL EVERETT
Praise for Geoff Dyer: Quite possibly the best living writer in Britain - Daily Telegraph
A national treasure -- ZADIE SMITH
Brilliant . . . Dyer's eyes miss nothing - Observer
