Tag Archives: korea

Shopping for the Ultimate Story: The Dallergut Dream Department Store and Odette Toulemonde

10 Jul

The Dallergut Dream Department Store
by Miye Lee with translation by Sandy Joosun Lee
The first in a best-selling Korean duology, that has become an international sensation, I was eager to read The Dallergut Dream Department Store when it became available for US consumption. The book follows Penny who has just gotten her fantasy job working at a Department store that sells a variety of dreams to sleepers. The sleepers remember the dreams, but not the shopping experience. The novel is built out of interlocking stories that show Penny’s progression at the store, but also bring in a variety of other dreamers and dream makers. While there is a lot of whimsy and heart in the novel (characters have charming names like Babynap Rockabye and furry clawed creatures supply sleepers with comfy pajamas), there is also a philosophical undercurrent looking at how even a nightmare of test taking may be healing and the importance of not focusing too heavily on the past or future to the detriment of one’s present path. If like me you enjoy magical realism and are fascinated by dreams and how they can have impact and relation to our waking lives, this book is sure to be an interesting and enjoyable read.

Odette Toulemonde
Odette Toulemonde is another story set in a Department Store, in this case the 2006 movie is from France but set partially in Belgium. Odette played by Catherine Frot is a middle aged sales person working at a cosmetics counter of a department store. She is widowed, but lives with her grumpy daughter. the daughter’s gross boyfriend, and a sweet son who rotates through his love interests at a rapid pace. Though Odette’s life seems ordinary and at times dull, she is able to derive great pleasure from the books by her favorite author, Balthazar Balsan (Albert Dupontel). Balsan, on the other hand, though having fame and money, is seriously depressed. When the two encounter each other at a book signing, it could change both their lives in unexpected ways. The movie weaves in some magical realism, whenever Odette gets too excited she begins to float and when she listens to her favorite chanteuse, she and even family members and friends will often break into dance routines. If you are a fan of the classic French film Amelie, than Odette Toulemonde is sure to be a treat.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Service Manager

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Take a Virtual Vacation with these Travel Shows on Hoopla Digital

7 Mar

After a stressful day, sometimes I find it can be hard to shut off my brain, at those times I often find it comforting to read a book, but another favorite way to unwind is by watching a travel show and drifting off to sleep imagining my own virtual vacation.  Here are a couple shows that Hoboken Library Resident Card Holders can check out from Hoopla and take a relaxing virtual trip, no passport required.

The Kimchi Chronicles

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The Kimchi Chronicles stars Marja Vongerichten who was the daughter of a Korean woman and an American GI who was adopted by Americans, but returned to Korea to find her birth mother.  The Kimchi Chronicles moves between showing Marja sampling mouthwatering food and experiencing Korean culture while exploring Korea with friends and relatives, and her and her talented French husband Jean Georges creating Korean-inspired dishes back home.  Several of their celebrity friends, including Hugh Jackman and Heather Graham, make appearances in some episodes.  I enjoyed how each episode focused on a different ingredient such as pork or areas such as Seoul.  If you are like me and can’t get enough of Korean delicacies check out a previous post were I discussed Edward Lee’s Korean/Southern Fusion Cookbook/Memoir, Smoke and Pickles.

Café Secrets – Season 1 and Season 2


Café Secrets is a charming series about the Café culture in New Zealand with popular Kiwi food writer and former café owner, Julie Le Clerc.  Each episode features recipes from the café owners as well as some of Julie’s own café classic recipes.  The series is a bit heavy on product placement, but this didn’t diminish my enjoyment of the show.  I appreciated that the series explored not just the cafés, but also the local communities, with Julie taking part in local events from participating in a fashion show to helping out in a community garden.  Those looking for more New Zealand travel/cooking shows may want to check out New Zealand with Nadia Lim (the Masterchef New Zealand winner travels and cooks her way around her native country) and Cook the Books (featuring a variety of New Zealand Cookbook authors, including Julie Le Clerc in one episode).

The Shelbourne Hotel – Season 1 and Season 2


The Shelbourne Hotel is a Dublin landmark which recently celebrated its 190th birthday.  The TV series gives a behind-the-scenes looks of the running of the hotel as it celebrates holidays like St. Patrick’s Day, has special events like a historic tasting menu, and hosts celebrities like a Rugby team.  From living through my own renovations at the library and at home it was interesting to see how the hotel coped with their own restoration of their historic structure.  The show portrays the hotel in a very positive light so don’t expect juicy gossip, but it is perfect for those looking for a quaint virtual trip.

-Written by Aimee Harris, Head of Reference

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