Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer's Reviews > I Am Not Your Eve

Polynesian and Polyphonic.
 
Pauline Appropriation.

Shortlisted for the Walter Scott Prize for historical fiction.
 
I have tried this novel twice and both times it did not really work for me, I think for a variety of reasons:
 
Firstly a lack of interest in art history in general and a lack of knowledge of Paul Gauguin in particular – I had a similar issue with Daisy Lafarge’s “Paul”. 
 
Secondly the writing style which seemed lyrical but to the point of native cliché.  And related I struggled with how I was meant to view the authenticity of a book which centres on voicing a backgrounded Tahitian, but which is written by a Brunei-born, London-raised, UEA-taught, Scottish living writer with a 100+ year later anti-colonial-filter.
 
So let me do my own Pauline appropriation and direct you to Paul’s more informative review of this book.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...