ME, MYSELF AND PRAGUE
An unreliable guide to Bohemia
By Rachael Weiss
“Jeziz maria !”, as Charlie “Pavel” Brown might say. How do you review a book in which not only do you know the author but you are a minor character in the said book?
Easy. Just ignore all difficulties. Just like Weiss did when she transplanted herself from Australia to venture to live for 6 months in the Czech Republic, specifically Prague.
Her romantic dreams of living a Bohemian life are soon shattered by the realities of living in less than romantic surroundings ( panelaks), rude check-out chicks and some uncompromising local people who just do not want to be part of her dream. Weiss mostly settles for friendship with a motley crew of Ex-Pats - Americans trying so hard not to be Americans, Brits believing they still rule the World just because the Pound does, outer space travellers ( otherwise known as Scandinavians) and the odd fellow Aussie, like my good self.
It may not sound exciting to you. Just another middle-class westerner diluting their mid-life crisis in downtown Prague? A town that probably needs more good plumbers than it does any more writers. But you would be wrong. Weiss has 2 strands to her history that make this story different. Firstly, she is of Czech stock. The Czech Republic is a country that she belongs to, because of her parentage, but had never visited. Secondly, she is Jewish and here she has other roots to explore that go beyond borders.
I need to say that most people will find it to be a funny book - unless, of course, you are one of the many people who the main characters are based on (a new experience for me) –but is a lot more rewarding than that, if you only take the time to enjoy the book’s more serious moments..
What one takes away from “ Me. Myself and Prague “ is what you take away from any good book - that we are all of us human, whatever our nationality, religion or place on the food chain eg., working in a Prague supermarket.
POSTSCRIPT : If you want to find me in the book :
1) I am Dancer No 5 in the back row, too old to wear make-up to fit in, and too drunk or too old to care !
2) You will have to buy the book, which I am unfortunately not getting a percentage of. Do it, just to spite me. Or to enrich my experience of human poverty.
Mr. Myself and Prague is now available from
www.allenandunwin.com, the publisher. If you want to buy one, go to Rachael’s web site
www.rachaelweiss.com where all the purchasing options and links can be found.
Lord of His Castle
