Geoff is the author of four novels: Paris Trance, The Search, The Colour of Memory, and Jeff in Venice, Death in Varanasi; a critical study of John Berger, Ways of Telling; two collections of essays, Anglo-English Attitudes and Working the Room; and many genre-defying books: But Beautiful, The Missing of the Somme, Out of Sheer Rage, Yoga For People Who Can’t Be Bothered To Do It, The Ongoing Moment, Zona, about Andrei Tarkovsky’s film Stalker, and Another Great Day at Sea: Life Aboard the USS George H W Bush. (shamelessly copied from Geoff’s site.)
Music: “The Animal I Am,” by Carsie Blanton.
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Show Notes:
Introduction (00:00 – 19:00)
(00:00) Travel Update, Stanley Krippner’s 85th, traveling the backbone of the Sierras, Bristlecone Pines
(05:00) Intro to Geoff Dyer, Pre-Order “Tangentially Reading”, Update on Stanley K., Travel Plans
(10:13) A listener shares a story with Chris
(15:24) Song 1: “The Animal I Am” by Carsie Blanton
Geoff Dyer – Genre-Defying Author (19:01 – 1:25:23)
(19:01) Brief intro to Geoff’s work, two author’s obsession; DH Lawrence (DHL)
(26:49) Literary Life vs. reality, a disagreement arises, DHL’s early years
(31:48) DHL’s sexuality, Chris shares an acid-tinged tale, DHL and sexual frustration
(37:41) Culture and sexuality, manliness, DHL and DIY
(43:19) DHL’s poetry, Tequila and “Snake”, the impact of a great teacher, the magic of language
(54:24) The educational escalator, Oxford, Andrew Harvey
(1:01:50) British vs. American literature, Tobias Wolff, “This Boy’s Life”
(1:11:01) Geoff on writing, Storylines, Travel to India, having a sense of humor
(1:24:11) The great conundrum of being human
(1:28:41) Song 2: “Smoke Alarm” by Carsie Blanton
Episode Links:
Tangentially Reading – PRE-Order HERE
Music: Basin and Range
Music: Carsie Blanton
Hey – This scholar and professional is exactly that – professional. He is a bit removed from his own emotional or bodily experience of life and I get it, but that perspective is what makes this podcast relatable. This learned individual has had a career that celebrates the cerebral. In the end, however, I wish you could get him more into the rest of his being: beyond the mind is emotion, spirit and body. He mentions Andrew Harvey….I would love an interview with him.