Book Review: Dallergut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee

About The Book

In a mysterious town hidden in our collective subconscious there's a department store that sells dreams. Day and night, visitors both human and animal shuffle in to purchase their latest adventure. Each floor specialises in a specific type of dream: childhood memories, food dreams, ice skating, dreams of stardom.

Flying dreams are almost always sold out. Some seek dreams of loved ones who have died. For Penny, an enthusiastic new hire, working at the store is the opportunity of a lifetime.

As she uncovers the workings of this whimsical world, she bonds with a cast of unforgettable characters, including DallerGut, the flamboyant and wise owner, Babynap Rockabye, a famous dream designer, Maxim, a nightmare producer, and the many customers who dream to heal, dream to grow, and dream to flourish.

A captivating story that will leave a lingering magical feeling in readers' minds. 

Why We Love It

Delightful! That’s the best word I can come up with to describe this dreamy book.

Imaginative, whimsical and comforting, it’s the literary equivalent of being wrapped in a big fluffy blanket. But while it’s an undeniably gentle story and could easily be dismissed as a light cosy read, it’s really so much more layered and thought-provoking than that.

Imagine the idea of a collective unconsciousness mind. A world we enter in our dreams to find solace, inspiration, hope, escapism or even to leave a message for a loved one years after we’re gone. That’s the Dallergut Dream Department Store and that’s the concept so beautifully brought to life by Korean author Miye Lee and translator Sandy Jooson Lee.

Penny is the store’s newest employee and the book follows her as she learns how the store works, meeting the various floor managers who each specialise in selling different types of dreams, as well as the customers who purchase them and the designers who create and supply the dreams.

Through Penny's eyes, we begin to understand the intricacies of this dream world, why different customers seek out specific dreams and what the impact of those choices is in the waking world.

There are no moments of high-drama or tension in this book, no massive plot reveal or conclusion, but when the concept is as unique and well-executed as this is, that doesn’t really matter. It’s just a beautiful journey of discovery into the subconscious that makes you wonder about the relationship between the conscious and unconscious.

Perfect for fans of Studio Ghibli or just if you’re in the mood for a relaxing fantasy read.