Geoff Dyer: Hopelessly Transient, Perpetually Readable

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Geoff Dyer seems to write his way out of his obsessions. Whether it’s jazz, the Battle of the Somme, or John Berger, Dyer is unconcerned with standard exposition. He appears to type until he’s figured out why he can’t help writing on his chosen subject matter. For the reader, the journey is sometimes manic, but always coherent and engaging.

Here are three by Dyer worth stashing in your rucksack.

Paris Trance: A Romance. Luke and Nicole. Alex and Sahra. Paris movie houses, football, Ecstasy-saturated discotheques, and sex. In the only novel on our short list, Dyer manages to craft a languid, Lost Generation-style narrative.

Out of Sheer Rage: Wrestling with D.H. Lawrence. Geoff Dyer is writing a sober, academic paper on D.H. Lawrence. Or is he? In this globetrotting narrative, Dyer captures the prosaic spirit of Lawrence through languorously avoiding him.

Yoga for People Who Can’t Be Bothered to Do It. Geoff Dyer invites the reader into his “homes”—all of them. From Asia to Europe, Europe to America, and back and forth a few times, Dyer heads inexorably towards a breakdown at an international techno festival.