A review by libraryoflanelle
DallerGut Dream Department Store by Mi-Ye Lee 이미예

5.0

In a whimsical and mysterious dream town, accessible only in the depths of sleep, lies the enchanting ‘Dallergut Dream Department Store.’ This magical emporium, run by the exuberant DallerGut and his team of distinct and curious employees, welcomes pyjama-clad visitors from every corner of the known world to buy dreams of all kinds. Yet, as morning comes and dreams fade, these visitors awaken with only fragments of the very dreams they unwittingly purchased in their sleep. 

 

My all-time favourite film since childhood is ‘Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium,’ largely due to the enigmatic and neurodivergent-coded Mr. Magorium himself, portrayed by Dustin Hoffman. Upon meeting DallerGut, my mind immediately conjured Hoffman’s Mr. Magorium. With the undeniable parallels - an emporium selling unusual commodities and a cast of neurodivergent-coded characters - I felt both at home and as if I were in a cosy dream as I turned the pages of this book. 

 

I am so grateful to Mi-Ye Lee for sharing this world with us and to Sandy Joosun Lee for so superbly bringing the story to life for English-speaking readers. I am eagerly anticipating the next book and can hardly wait for my pre-order to arrive.