Iris Murdoch is on a brilliant streak at this point. This book is a fairly unforgiving portrait of death and dying from a few different angles, and Bruno himself is a gruesome character. There is also comedy and farce as the remaining characters dance around each other in various changing formations. There are also stamps and spiders. ( )

Someone once said Murdoch's books are full of passion and disaster. Exactly! At the center of Bruno's Dream is the complication of family and all the confusing dynamics that can happen between its members. The lust and the hate and everything in between spill out of Murdoch's stories. The relationships surrounding protagonist Bruno are sticky, web-like, and ensnaring (pun totally intended as Bruno is a philatelist and arachnologist of sorts). Much like a spider in a web, he lays bedridden and dying, waiting for people to come to him. Most loyal to Bruno is Nigel. Of all the characters Nigel is the simplest. Throughout the story he remains uncoupled despite his best attempts. Knowing Bruno doesn't have long to live, he urges Bruno's estranged son, Miles, to visit his dying father. Son and father have been apart since Miles married an Indian woman much to Bruno's disapproval. After the death of his first wife Miles remarries but his father has never met the second wife, Diana, due to the prejudicial falling out. Diana's sister, Lisa, complicates Miles's household when she arrives and Miles can't help but seduce her. When it comes to women, Miles is a very busy man. More loyal to Bruno than his own son is son-in-law Danby, once married to Bruno's daughter, Gwen. Gwen died before the reader picks up the story. As an aside, if you would like to keep track, three wives have died: Bruno's wife, Miles's first wife, and Danby's wife. Danby at some point carried on a secret affair with Adelaide, Bruno's nurse, but doesn't stay faithful to her. Adelaide and Nigel's twin brother also have an affair. Lots and lots of partner switching.
As an aside, I felt that nearly everyone in Bruno's Dream was crazy. I didn't really care for any of them. ( )

Another joy to read. The characters are all driven by feeling. They get themselves into strife because of this. Goodness wins through and the conundrums are resolved. The stronger characters are the women. It's Murdoch genius at work again, and deservedly, nominated for the Booker Prize.

Interesting characters caught up in a tangled web of relationships centered around an elderly man slowly succumbing to a terminal illness. There are lots of twists and surprises in the story. the characters illuminate various aspects of life and love as they work out their relationships. ( )

Jag gillar Murdoch´s karaktärer och hennes berättelser. Karaktärerna är lite skruvade men känns ändå äkta och beter sig mänskligt. Även berättelserna är starka och trovärdiga. Här är det relationerna mellan ett antal människor i den gamle döende Brunos närhet vi får följa. Klart läsvärd. ( )