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Dr Ragab's Universal Language
 
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Dr Ragab's Universal Language (Hardcover)

by Robert Twigger (Author)
3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
RRP: £12.99
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Customers buy this book with Tunnel Visions: Journeys of an Underground Philosopher by Christopher Ross

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Product details

  • Hardcover: 304 pages
  • Publisher: Picador; First Edition edition (17 Jul 2009)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0330427466
  • ISBN-13: 978-0330427463
  • Product Dimensions: 21.8 x 14 x 2.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 251,537 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

Review

'A surreal piece...that spans time and space from 1920s Cairo to today's England - yet seems an utterly believable mystery story' --Elle

'Engrossing' --International Herald Tribune

'(Twigger) now extends himself further,lifeshiftingly, into fiction with Dr Ragab's Universal Language - which is basically a Paulo Coelho book as written by a funny English bloke...
The real pleasure of reading Twigger derives from his knowing things other people don't,knowledge he has carefully cultivated... Dr Ragab's Universal Language is thus part allegorical quest, part philosophy and part pure hokum.'
--Guardian


Review

'An unusual, surreal and genuinely intriguing novel'
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Customer Reviews

39 Reviews
5 star:
 (8)
4 star:
 (9)
3 star:
 (15)
2 star:
 (6)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.4 out of 5 stars (39 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Almost great..., 9 Aug 2009
By Mark Too "Twenty" (London, UK) - See all my reviews
  
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Programme (What's this?)
So very nearly excellent... Others here have summarised the plot so I won't repeat it, but I think there's a message in the range of ratings other reviewers have given this book.

On the plus side, this is genuinely a really clever, inventive novel of ideas. So why only three stars?

Personally I found my interest lapsing in the mddle third. For me, the fatal flaw is that I just didn't care about any of the characters. The central character of the narrative, Hertwig, is a blank cipher, and long before the end I found the bunker-loving modern-day narrator plain irritating - a figure from a Nick Hornby novel on an off-day. As a result, when the pace of the story itself slowed, I just didn't care what happened next.

One other, lesser concern; from time to time I felt that the author was just a little too self-conscious in showing off his learning.

The publisher's blurb on the back of the book compares it to 'Carter Beats the Devil', a comparison that does neither book justice. Yes, both have magic (of completely different sorts) as a central theme; but the two couldn't really be more dissimilar. (The book that kept coming to my mind while reading 'Dr. Ragab' was 'The Tin Drum'). The real comparison is no doubt that 'Carter' sold a lot of copies, and the publishers hope 'Dr. Ragab' will too.

And it does deserve to. I don't want to overplay the negatives. This is an intelligent and generally engaging book of ideas; I wouldn't be at all surprised to see it among the prizes. Just not my thing...
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Fatuous or Genius?, 15 Aug 2009
By Donald Lush "lushd" (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)      
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Programme (What's this?)
I really can't decide. This is an engaging and witty book, easy and and enjoyable to read. Anyone with an interest in philosophy or mysticism or magic will find much familiar territory whilst finding any pretensions in the field gently sent up.

Twigger takes the reader on a rich journey through territory that seems not too far removed from Raiders of The Lost Ark or Tombraider (yes, I think it would make a good film). Is Twigger mocking his reader, educating us or just facile? None of the characters has substance or really encourages strong emotional attachment, the plot is a little predictable (not helped by Twigger signalling its main events very heavily, so that there's little danger of too much unbearable dramatic tension developing).

It's main point seems to be that the central character is on some sort of personal quest to find knowledge it turns out he already has and was always on the path to. Like much great philosophy, this revelation can seem like the worst sort of self help codology. Or it can seem like the most profound thought.

And I think that's actually what this the book is about - what you see, what you experience is what you choose to, in depth or superficially. It's trite, but it's right.

However, I would have enjoyed it even more if I could have cared strongly about any of the characters and been a bit more on the edge of my seat.

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars Something lacking, 7 Sep 2009
By L. M. Cowan "aeterna_kai" (England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)      
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Programme (What's this?)
When I read about this book I think I expected something universal, something about connections and something profound or at least something philosophically provoking. This relatively short story provided none of these things in great abundance. There were definitely hints of connections and tastes of philosophy but either I missed the main point entirely (possible) or there isn't one or as Dr Ragab would say - it takes more than one reading to understand a book!

Sadly, the characters and the storyline didn't hold enough depth or excitement for me to want to reread it, especially as I found it quite slow to start.

That is not to say it wasn't an interesting book and I read it quite quickly, but there seemed to be something lacking, the ideas and themes involved were not explored or explained in enough detail. I prefer to understand a books intentions at the end of a read, not to have to wonder whether I understood or not - for example, I think the bunker obsession and references have some link to Plato's cave (which I would find interesting and original) but ultimately I'm not sure.

I neither disliked the book, nor particularly loved it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars It's a great book!
This is a great book. As with all of Twigger's books (and I have read them all)they blend his astonishing knowledge of all sorts of things you didn't even know were interesting... Read more
Published 2 days ago by Barry Collins

3.0 out of 5 stars Witty and readable, but flags midway
This is one of those books that garners review comments along the lines of "Unique!" "Surreal!" "Creative! Read more
Published 1 month ago by bluecougar25

3.0 out of 5 stars Tantalising... but falls slightly short
No spoilers. The concept of Dr Ragab's Universal Language is pleasingly ambitious, and it doesn't take long at all to take shape - no mean feat considering the book's unusual... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Steven Willis

2.0 out of 5 stars Different.....but not all in a good way
I really though I would enjoy this book from cover to cover. It sounded interesting, unique and exciting but it just didn't always deliver. Read more
Published 1 month ago by M. R. Jones

2.0 out of 5 stars Good writing let down by an implausible and rambling plot.
This is a book which had plenty of potential. Split by the device of a modern day character reading an account from someone from an earlier era, Hertwig, who in turn describes a... Read more
Published 1 month ago by J. Brand

5.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking, shocking and yet entirely addictive
This is it. The novel that on completion of reading I wanted to re-read again, but this time slowly - paying attention to the significant, yet apparantly minor details that marks... Read more
Published 1 month ago by R. Barker

3.0 out of 5 stars Utterly brilliant or complete rubbish?
Having read Twigger's excellent Angry White Pyjamas I thought this would be equally as good. To be honest I'm so confused that I don't know if it is or not. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Tan1963

5.0 out of 5 stars Imaginitive and mind konbobulating
This is a great read.....open your mind....and let it flow into you. A psychadelic book of epic proportions!! I love books where you don't have a clue what is coming next... Read more
Published 1 month ago by C. Copp

3.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing....?
I feel this will appeal to those whe like their language poetic and their books erudite and literary - yet want a compelling narrative. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Bruce in Brighton

4.0 out of 5 stars Once I Put It Down I Couldn't Pick It Up
My title for this review is a bit unfair, perhaps, but it's probably in the nature of puzzle books (which this is, in part) that if you don't enjoy the puzzle you won't be... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Michael Mooney

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