With it's bright and vivid cover art it's impossible not to be drawn into the DallerGut Dream Department Store just on appearances alone, and once you're drawn in there's no putting down this beautiful novel from Miye Lee.
From the blurb;
'In a mysterious town that lies hidden in our collective subconscious, there's a quaint little store where all kinds of dreams are sold...
'Day and night, visitors both human and animal from all over the world shuffle in sleepily in their pyjamas, lining up to purchase their latest adventure. Each floor in the department store sells a special kind of dream catered for each client.
'Meet Penny, an enthusiastic new-hire, as she navigates the world within the famous DallerGut Dream Department Store along with the other sales people. led by the flamboyant owner, DallerGut himself.
'There is never a dull moment thanks to the curious, funny and strange clientele that regularly visit the store. Follow along with Penny as she uncovers the workings of this wonderfully whimsical world!'
A gorgeous concept that asks readers to consider the magic and benefit of dreams, Miye Lee swiftly draws readers into her fascinating world, quickly wrapping us into the arms of the DallerGut Dream Department Store and all the whimsical comings and goings of it's over worked staff.
Penny, a young woman in her first proper job, guides us into this immersive dream world, her curiosity leading her to ask the questions readers are begging to have answers for. With Penny we jump months at a time through her first year of work in the famous shop, learning the ropes from how dreams are crafted, to how they're sold and the benefits they have on the stores clientele.
To highlight these dream benefits Lee steps the reader out of her dream world and back into reality, putting us into the shoes of the tired as they fight with personal issues, solved by the bliss of sleep and the dreams they buy.
Lee concentrates her story into subsections focused primarily on different types of dreams, easing us into the idea of beneficial dreams with the concept of dreams that help us take a daunting step in our lives, this time with a concentration of new romantic relationships. As the story moves on Lee introduces us to the concept of around eight different types of dream, from pre-cognitive dreams to the more heart breaking after death dreams one might have with a loved one who has passed.
While she opens our eyes to the power of dreams, and the emotional impact our nightly mind wanderings have on our real lives, Lee also brings us a cast of characters as vibrant as her books cover. Led by Penny, who's confidence within her job grows steadily throughout the book and who introduces us to a broader range of characters through her experiences, including a glimpse into the lives of the famous and elusive dream makers themselves, we meet an odd assortment of characters, each of whom gains a special place in our hearts as the novel progresses.
Written and translated from Korean the majority of the dreamers we come into contact with throughout this novel are based in Korea, however Lee manages to avoid alienating readers who know little of the country or culture by focusing on something we all share, emotion. This clever focus on people rather than their outer lives, makes sure the book is immersive for all readers.
Based in a world on the fringes of our own we can only marvel at Lee's imaginative talent. The DallerGut Dream Department Store is a beautiful imagining that will sweep readers up and fully immerse them into this fantastical world. We wouldn't be surprised if readers find themselves dreaming of DallerGut's store long after finishing this beautiful novel.
We give the DallerGut Dream Department Store Five Stars.
ISBN - 978-1-03-541273-0
Cover Price - £14.99 First published in the English language in 2023 by WILDFIRE and imprint of HEADLINE PUBLISHING GROUP
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