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The Last Days of Roger Federer

And Other Endings

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The Last Days of Roger Federer

By: Geoff Dyer
Narrated by: Richard Burnip
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'Quite possibly the best living writer in Britain' Daily Telegraph 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.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. Art & Literature Artists, Architects & Photographers Entertainment & Celebrities Sports Tennis Celebrity Thought-Provoking
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Critic 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)
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)
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
Praise for Geoff Dyer: Quite possibly the best living writer in Britain
A national treasure (ZADIE SMITH)
Brilliant . . . Dyer's eyes miss nothing
Dyer is not merely a fine prose stylist but a writer of knowingly stylish prose (Stuart Kelly)
There's no other writer quite like Dyer
Inspiring and informing
Even Chekhov might have envied Geoff Dyer's talent . . . Almost perfect
All stars
Most relevant
Excellent Dyer performed week by a great reader who captures the tone and spirit of Dyer. Highly recommended.

Premium Dyer

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Having enjoyed the two books read by Tom Hollander I cracked on with this in the hope that the narrator wouldn't spoil it. He does. It is really hard to know whether this book is not as good as those I previously read or whether it's just the oration, which reminds me of the delivery on Radio 4's Just a Minute.
I'd read The Missing of the Somme before and enjoyed that, and the narrator is appropriately sombre. Out of Sheer Rage and Yoga for People Who Can't Be Bothered to Do It, read by Hollander, are enhanced by his ability to convey petulance. Perhaps this book is not intended to contain that petulance? But surely it's not intended to sound like Just a Minute, either. I'm sure that the narrator sounds just fine when reading something else, but it doesn't work here.
Other commentators have complained that this is not a book about Roger Federer. I don't have a problem with that, coming straight from the Hollander read books, in fact I'm perfectly happy not knowing about the last days of Roger Federer.

A Sense of an Ending

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Geoff Dyer's brilliant writing is completely ruined by the sound of Alan Patridge's voice. Shame.

Narration ruined it

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I've enjoyed all of Geoff Dyer's books due to the scope of the subject matter covered and how they are effortlessly linked to form a well-paced and informative read based on his own experiences and outlook.

More great stuff from Dyer

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Boring, repetitive, absolutely no substance! Completely random quotes and texts without any sense whatsoever. I would love to know what is the purpose of this book? Codswallop.

Boring!

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