Dyer’s writing is not meant to be taken literally. To me he is constantly flitting around his characters and riffing on subjects with a brilliance few others match. I would die to write something like:-

‘When he was seventeen Jeff had read The French Lieutenant’s Woman and had been much impressed by John Fowles’s distinction between the Victorian point of view – I can’t have this forever, therefore I’m miserable – and the modern, existential outlook: I have this for the moment, therefore I’m happy. It had stayed with him ever since but it seemed absurd, now, to have any pretensions to existential contentment. Sat on the bench with Laura as the afternoon shadows lengthened Jeff knew he was finally getting in touch with his inner Victorian. He felt with Laura strange, modern form of intimacy – not Victorian at all – that made it easier to lick someone’s ass than to ask when you might see them again.”

Good he got you writing again.
Ian