The beginning of this travel memoir is initially frustrating to read as Rachel deals with her insecurities and struggles to learn the Czech language. These factors, accompanied by bad plumbing and few job prospects, make Rachel’s hopes of love and success seem silly and pointless. However, Rachel is both determined and optimistic to make the most of her new home and eventually leaves the flat to find friendship and the joys of Prague.

As the course of the book continues Rachel begins to find a place among the beer houses and cobbled streets. Her eclectic bunch of friends offer a fascinating insight into the lives of expats and her recounts of short day trips and off-the-beaten-track discoveries keep the book plodding along gently.

Indeed, one of the most rewarding aspects of Me, Myself and Prague is that it is not cluttered with daring decisions and exotic adventures. Unlike the typical travel story that begins with uncertainty and ends with passionate love and a new career, Rachel simply lives. This quality could have made for dull reading, but instead it makes the experience strangely comforting. This is largely to do with the fact that Rachel’s writing feels so genuine and real, her friendliness shines so strongly through it that you feel compelled to hear her story. Ultimately, you feel as though you are sitting down for a few coffees with an old high school friend who is keeping you up to date on the last year of their life. This makes Me, Myself and Prague an enjoyable and easy read.

The overriding theme of the importance of Rachel’s family is another fulfilling element of the book. As Rachel learns the language and is able to reconnect with both her family in Prague and Australia she becomes a stronger person, piecing together history and people. Rachel’s visit to her grandfather’s concentration camp is one of the most moving moments in the story.

The book is not limited to a self-centred account of Rachel and explores the political history, geography and cultural components of the Czech Republic in engaging and often humorous anecdotes. This keeps it interesting and helpfully informative - I certainly found myself pondering an escape to Prague using Rachel’s helpful tips and place suggestions!

Stories of leaving and coming and going have always held some appeal for dreamers everywhere. So, naturally, reading about a year of living in Prague was a most enjoyable experience. But this was largely due to the stripped-back authenticity of Rachel’s journey and her highly likable nature.

This is the sort of book you read before bed whilst drinking green tea and contemplating life as a bohemian. Don’t expect suspense and drama, but do expect to end the story with a quiet smile.

Image courtesy of Allen and Unwin.