A 'story ' of the heart - something for everyone, 04 Feb 2003
When I saw this book in my local bookshop, the first thing which struck me was the presentation of it; it really is beautiful. The book is divided into four 'chambers' discussing the heart in regards to the physical heart, the heart in religion, the heart in art and the lover's heart. Each of these has a variety of black and white drawings as well as colour illustrations. There are also many poems included. This really is a treasure chest of information.

I like this book because it does not have to read just in one sitting as other bokks are typically read. Because of the different sections, this is a book you can easily dip into as and when you feel like it.

Although many readers may not find all of the sections equally as interesting, some people may find the section called 'The Anatomist's Heart' quite hard going in places, but try not to let this put you off, there is still lots of interesting bits of information to be ahd from there.
I definitely enjoyed the other three sections (or chambers) of the book. Young discusses ideas such as the heart as a book, the heart as a magic object and the heart as a musical instrument. There is definitely something in here for everyone. If you do enjoy this book, I would also suggest you read "Heart: A Personal Journey through its Myths and Meanings" by Gail Godwin.

A 'story ' of the heart - something for everyone, 04 Feb 2003
When I saw this book in my local bookshop, the first thing which struck me was the presentation of it; it really is beautiful. The book is divided into four 'chambers' discussing the heart in regards to the physical heart, the heart in religion, the heart in art and the lover's heart. Each of these has a variety of black and white drawings as well as colour illustrations. There are also many poems included. This really is a treasure chest of information.

I like this book because it does not have to read just in one sitting as other bokks are typically read. Because of the different sections, this is a book you can easily dip into as and when you feel like it.

Although many readers may not find all of the sections equally as interesting, some people may find the section called 'The Anatomist's Heart' quite hard going in places, but try not to let this put you off, there is still lots of interesting bits of information to be ahd from there.
I definitely enjoyed the other three sections (or chambers) of the book. Young discusses ideas such as the heart as a book, the heart as a magic object and the heart as a musical instrument. There is definitely something in here for everyone. If you do enjoy this book, I would also suggest you read "Heart: A Personal Journey through its Myths and Meanings" by Gail Godwin.

Goodness, what a silly book, 18 Jun 1999
Louisa Young can definitely write. But what ridiculous storylines and characters! The heroine is a blonde-haired, blue-eyed belly-dancer, for a start, who gets embroiled in all sorts of outlandish and improbable situations. I just felt that Young was trying too hard to be cool, trying to impress the reader with how hard she is (couldn't shake the feeling that Evangeline was Young) All that motorbike stuff and hard-faced one-liners that no woman I know would ever come out with. To the reader who wanted to know what happens next, there is a sequel on its way apparently. Whoopee.

Compelling, sexy sensitive book, 07 Apr 1999
A great story . . . sexual politics and suspense. Touching and well-observed relationship between mother and child. But I want to know what happens next . . .

Unsentimental portrayal of the power of baby love!, 13 Feb 1999
Parental love is a by-line to a fast paced and entertaining story. The author puts across the deep emotions of bereavement and love for her child with a sure and deft touch.

Tree of Pearls is the final instalment in the Evangeline Gower trilogy. Louisa Young's heroine is as slangy and stroppy but she has a gloriously romantic heart, something often missing from the other literary modern misses. Evangeline's tender passion embraces her daughter Lily, the five-year-old "octopus of love"; the two men in her life, mysterious tempting Sa'id and long, tall Harry, all cheekbones and louche cockiness. Evangeline, ex- belly dancer and single mother, has attitude and intelligence, and a glorious understanding of what makes life worth the living. Once again Evangeline has Eddie Bates on her case. This psychopathic villain caused strife in Desiring Cairo, and his sinister shadow once again draws her to Cairo and Luxor to sort him out once and for all. She' s accompanied by his ex-wife Chrissie, and her own romantic dilemmas: Harry or Sa'id, Sa'id or Harry. The story unfolds slowly and gracefully, with a gorgeous sound track for the heartache and dangerous events: "and then, oh glorious joy, Umm Khalthoum singing Enat Omri--You Are My Life. Whenever I hear it my backbone grows longer and my foot arches, I begin to sway and to feel a mild but definite yearning for the weight of a heavily sequinned band around my hips."

Louisa Young doesn't stick to a plain old story but allows Evangeline digression and musings that shimmer and sparkle. She contemplates mythology, the colours of the landscape and the sky, the rapture in Egyptian love songs. Tree of Pearls is seductive, romantic and realistic. Evangeline Gower is redeemed by love but remains strong and independent, and in control of her own life: "I close no doors, I send love. I am not wasting away for you." --Eithne Farry

A 'story ' of the heart - something for everyone, 04 Feb 2003
When I saw this book in my local bookshop, the first thing which struck me was the presentation of it; it really is beautiful. The book is divided into four 'chambers' discussing the heart in regards to the physical heart, the heart in religion, the heart in art and the lover's heart. Each of these has a variety of black and white drawings as well as colour illustrations. There are also many poems included. This really is a treasure chest of information.

I like this book because it does not have to read just in one sitting as other bokks are typically read. Because of the different sections, this is a book you can easily dip into as and when you feel like it.

Although many readers may not find all of the sections equally as interesting, some people may find the section called 'The Anatomist's Heart' quite hard going in places, but try not to let this put you off, there is still lots of interesting bits of information to be ahd from there.
I definitely enjoyed the other three sections (or chambers) of the book. Young discusses ideas such as the heart as a book, the heart as a magic object and the heart as a musical instrument. There is definitely something in here for everyone. If you do enjoy this book, I would also suggest you read "Heart: A Personal Journey through its Myths and Meanings" by Gail Godwin.

Goodness, what a silly book, 18 Jun 1999
Louisa Young can definitely write. But what ridiculous storylines and characters! The heroine is a blonde-haired, blue-eyed belly-dancer, for a start, who gets embroiled in all sorts of outlandish and improbable situations. I just felt that Young was trying too hard to be cool, trying to impress the reader with how hard she is (couldn't shake the feeling that Evangeline was Young) All that motorbike stuff and hard-faced one-liners that no woman I know would ever come out with. To the reader who wanted to know what happens next, there is a sequel on its way apparently. Whoopee.

Compelling, sexy sensitive book, 07 Apr 1999
A great story . . . sexual politics and suspense. Touching and well-observed relationship between mother and child. But I want to know what happens next . . .

Unsentimental portrayal of the power of baby love!, 13 Feb 1999
Parental love is a by-line to a fast paced and entertaining story. The author puts across the deep emotions of bereavement and love for her child with a sure and deft touch.

My favourite book, 03 Nov 2004
Louisa Young's prose is beautiful and so well-crafted that it seems effortless. Her characters are human and believable and so much of her writing about feelings and relationships strikes a real chord with me. I read this book in a day, despite having a million other things to do and find it inconceivable that other readers wouldn't enjoy it!

I love all her books, 06 Jan 2002
I wonder at the human race sometimes - this book is so good and so easy to like you just think the readers must not be up to it. It's funny, clever, loving, quietly knowledgable - I look forward to everything she writes.

satisfying conclusion to a trilogy, 01 Nov 2001
The prose can be thoroughly seductive and verging on the literary, even though the novel is far too entertaining to qualify for the literary tag (usually reserved for the unreadably turgid rather than brilliantly written).

Boring, 16 Apr 2001
This is a badly written and unconvincing story. I was particularly irritated by the gratuitous over-use of four-letter words. It's a book that goes nowhere. If you want to read a travelog of Egypt then some parts might interest you but the rest of it is superficial. I haven't read the other books in this trilogy and I have no desire to do so.

A novel of exotic adventure and intrigue, 12 Feb 2001
Tree of Pearls is a first-person narration by Angeline Gower, an ex-belly dancer with an Egyptian lover and a past lover/enemy named Eddie Bates who has illegally entered Britain. In order to track Eddie down and finally get some peace, Angeline goes back to Egypt to find out why he came to Britain. The story itself is quite boring and the writing undistinguished. One problem with the first person narration is that the characters are seen only through Angeline's eyes and as a result never attain a voice of their own. Such solipsism sometimes has its place, but unfortunately, Angeline makes the reader into her confidant, often explaining motivations which were better left unsaid. As a result, there is no subtlety, only Angeline's garishly obvious voice.

A 'story ' of the heart - something for everyone, 04 Feb 2003
When I saw this book in my local bookshop, the first thing which struck me was the presentation of it; it really is beautiful. The book is divided into four 'chambers' discussing the heart in regards to the physical heart, the heart in religion, the heart in art and the lover's heart. Each of these has a variety of black and white drawings as well as colour illustrations. There are also many poems included. This really is a treasure chest of information.

I like this book because it does not have to read just in one sitting as other bokks are typically read. Because of the different sections, this is a book you can easily dip into as and when you feel like it.

Although many readers may not find all of the sections equally as interesting, some people may find the section called 'The Anatomist's Heart' quite hard going in places, but try not to let this put you off, there is still lots of interesting bits of information to be ahd from there.
I definitely enjoyed the other three sections (or chambers) of the book. Young discusses ideas such as the heart as a book, the heart as a magic object and the heart as a musical instrument. There is definitely something in here for everyone. If you do enjoy this book, I would also suggest you read "Heart: A Personal Journey through its Myths and Meanings" by Gail Godwin.

Goodness, what a silly book, 18 Jun 1999
Louisa Young can definitely write. But what ridiculous storylines and characters! The heroine is a blonde-haired, blue-eyed belly-dancer, for a start, who gets embroiled in all sorts of outlandish and improbable situations. I just felt that Young was trying too hard to be cool, trying to impress the reader with how hard she is (couldn't shake the feeling that Evangeline was Young) All that motorbike stuff and hard-faced one-liners that no woman I know would ever come out with. To the reader who wanted to know what happens next, there is a sequel on its way apparently. Whoopee.

Compelling, sexy sensitive book, 07 Apr 1999
A great story . . . sexual politics and suspense. Touching and well-observed relationship between mother and child. But I want to know what happens next . . .

Unsentimental portrayal of the power of baby love!, 13 Feb 1999
Parental love is a by-line to a fast paced and entertaining story. The author puts across the deep emotions of bereavement and love for her child with a sure and deft touch.

My favourite book, 03 Nov 2004
Louisa Young's prose is beautiful and so well-crafted that it seems effortless. Her characters are human and believable and so much of her writing about feelings and relationships strikes a real chord with me. I read this book in a day, despite having a million other things to do and find it inconceivable that other readers wouldn't enjoy it!

I love all her books, 06 Jan 2002
I wonder at the human race sometimes - this book is so good and so easy to like you just think the readers must not be up to it. It's funny, clever, loving, quietly knowledgable - I look forward to everything she writes.

satisfying conclusion to a trilogy, 01 Nov 2001
The prose can be thoroughly seductive and verging on the literary, even though the novel is far too entertaining to qualify for the literary tag (usually reserved for the unreadably turgid rather than brilliantly written).

Boring, 16 Apr 2001
This is a badly written and unconvincing story. I was particularly irritated by the gratuitous over-use of four-letter words. It's a book that goes nowhere. If you want to read a travelog of Egypt then some parts might interest you but the rest of it is superficial. I haven't read the other books in this trilogy and I have no desire to do so.

A novel of exotic adventure and intrigue, 12 Feb 2001
Tree of Pearls is a first-person narration by Angeline Gower, an ex-belly dancer with an Egyptian lover and a past lover/enemy named Eddie Bates who has illegally entered Britain. In order to track Eddie down and finally get some peace, Angeline goes back to Egypt to find out why he came to Britain. The story itself is quite boring and the writing undistinguished. One problem with the first person narration is that the characters are seen only through Angeline's eyes and as a result never attain a voice of their own. Such solipsism sometimes has its place, but unfortunately, Angeline makes the reader into her confidant, often explaining motivations which were better left unsaid. As a result, there is no subtlety, only Angeline's garishly obvious voice.

i love this book!, 09 Apr 2008
I read this middle part of the trilogy first and loved it. Is it just me or is it as you get older, books regularly disappoint?. So many books I read just dont do the business! This is different it holds together and totally takes you along with it. The other two books are good but this one has something special. Its not a 'chick' book its an up to date equivalent to Jane Austen. Just read it. trust me ok?

fantastic fun with one of the sexiest heroes in fiction, 21 Aug 2000
I read a review of desiring cairo in which they said Louisa Young's talent lay in creating sexy believable but fundamentally decent men. Having read the whole of her trilogy I agree. Evangeline is a great stroppy heroine with none of the mushy self-dobut which ruins so many 'chick books' as for her heroes. Sa'id is great as the unobtainable dream but it is Harry who sticks in the mind - louche, laidback and believable - I have to say I grew up in Shepherd's Bush and Acton and god I would have died for a man like him. Anyway read this for a good laugh, a great read and some occasionally serious fun.

Great book, great sequel, 24 Jan 2000
I read and enjoyed Baby Love, and wasn't sure how it could be continued, but in fact there was much more depth in Desiring Cairo, following up the same themes but really doing them justice, while being funny and exciting too, just as Baby Love was. Angeline falls in love, and a lot of the book is set in Egypt, not just as a backdrop but as a real country. It said in the Sunday Times that this book was 'exhilarating and genuinely serious' - I couldn't see how a sequel to Baby Love could be serious at all but it is. I recommend it a lot. There's going to be a part three as well, so there's that to look forward to.