The Rules of Dreaming

Really good read! I highlighted many parts in my kindle. Well written, deep and thoughtful. Halfway through, I thought I'd figured it out, but I hadn't. So keep reading it as if no one was a schizophrenic.

Multi-layered plot and memorable characters made this book a delicious read. This book is the perfect companion for a snow-bound day spent sitting by the fire. Now I want to know more about Hoffmann. . . And Schumann.

In some ways this excellent mystery novel reminded me of The Da Vinci Code. Both are intricately woven stories that sweep the reader effortlessly along through fascinating pieces of cultural and scientific history as the plot twists and turns to its exciting conclusion. In this case, the history of music and the complexities of modern psychology are the terrain of exploration. Murder, madness, Freud and opera are all wrapped around a gritty and very modern crime drama. There are also shades of Crime and Punishment and the Turn of the Screw, as the author explores the depths of the human psyche and what makes people act as they do, while allowing for the role of supernatural and transcendent powers in our lives. But you don't need to have a PhD or a degree in comparative literature to love this book. Above all, it's a tremendously entertaining read for anyone who loves intelligent, carefully plotted and exceedingly well-written mysteries.

I absolutely loved this book. This author has a great way of writing. I liked that is was not written for a "surface thinker" as I call them, it really went deep therefore keeping it interesting and enjoyable.

I absolutely loved The Rules of Dreaming! The author keeps you guessing until the very end and then shocks you with a mind-bending twist. With compelling characters and a distinctive voice of it's own, this artfully crafted piece of literature is a pleasure to read.

"The Rules of Dreaming" is a taut and alluring mystery story, interspersed throughout by the author's witty asides and philosophical ruminations on that much larger mystery of what it means to be a human being in an otherwise crazy world. The characters in Bruce Hartman's novel are utterly believable and the plot is invariably engaging and often surprising. But it is the novel's deft combination of a probing exploration of the genesis and workings of psychological abnormality with the age-old themes of love, sexual obsession, and death that together keep the reader thoroughly absorbed. Though contemporary in sensibility and language, the novel nevertheless evoked for this reader classic mystery stories of psychological intrigue, such as "The Woman in White," "Uncle Silas," and "The Turn of the Screw." An excellent and enjoyable read.

The story was good, fun to follow, and fast-paced. It was the first book that caught my attention since I've been having a hard time moving on from the last book I read (and loved so much!).

The punctuation, though...

This is a lightning read! The author intertwines an exciting, fast-paced psychological thriller and literary plot lines in a way that makes every character questionably sane... and questionably guilty. I read a good number of mysteries and I loved the madness aspect of this one, it really challenges the reader's perception of everything taking place. No question, it's a great mystery with a great twist at the end!

not believable in any shape, form, or fashion. a fast but clumsy read. one trips along at a frenetic pace; expecting to end up in some place of literary common sense: colonel mustard in the conservatory with a candle stick. doesn't happen. don't expect it.
just pass. seriously. save yourself the headache.

Although I favor literary fantasy, I only made it halfway through this book before deleting it. It's rare for me not to finish a book, but when I found I was dreading even picking up my Kindle, I looked up what I'd paid for this title. Since it was free, I decided there were better and more pleasurable ways to spend my reading time. I thought the book was a confusing mish-mash, sometimes told by a narrator, sometimes in the 3rd person. There was not a character that I cared about. This book sounded as though it would be right in my wheelhouse, but it was so not.

"The Rules of Dreaming" is a tantalizing murder mystery that revolves around the death of an opera singer, Maria Morgan, the mother of twin schizophrenic patients at the Palmer Institute a prestigious psychiatric hospital outside New York. Suffering from the trauma of the alleged suicide after seven years the twins are still heavily sedated; the one lost in a world of silence, the other uttering mad gibberish.
In this novel Bruce Hartman blends a murder coverup, an operatic score, and madness which not only impacts the patients but the staff at the Institute. He weaves a story so intense and at times so complicated that the reader is challenged to pay close attention to details because the insanity can seem like reality.
As the plot thickens and the mystery of Maria's death begins to unravel leaving those trying to solve it in a wake of sinister repercussions, Bruce Hartman's characters seem to evolve, the strength of their personalities growing stronger as they confront each other and the sinister evil underlining the mystery. Ned Hoffman a newly graduated psychiatrist finds the isolated life of the Institute lonely. As he tries to bring the twins back to a kind of normalcy, Hunter's madness threatens to expose the doctor's secret desires that come alive in his fantasies and nightmares.
Nicole, a 26 year old graduate student recovering from a breakdown and struggling to regain her life befriends the twins and becomes involuntarily sucked into the mystery that surrounds their psychosis. When Hunter Morgan, the mad twin who speaks through multiple personalities begins fiendishly playing a Shumann piece without any training on the piano the threads of his psychosis begin to unravel and clues to his mother's murder are exposed. Into this insanely riveting plot add the sleuthing ability of Dubin,a self-proclaimed blackmailer, a guilt-ridden father, a distraught and unloved second wife, two competitive brothers, and two mad women-one an innocent virgin, the other a nymphomaniac. With each twist and turn of the story, each new murder, betrayal and illicit affair the timbre of the mystery and madness grows until the facts seem blurred in unreality. Only at the end does it all make sense, and this novel becomes a remarkable, complicated work worth reading.

In The Rules of Dreaming Bruce Hartman has created a spellbinding tale which will be greatly enjoyed by mystery buffs and readers of straight fiction alike. Hartman's narrative moves flawlessly ahead as it shifts between the points of view of a number of widely varied and fully realized characters to weave a plot in which the solving of the crime and the discovery of its perpetrator require a study of grand opera and an inquiry into depth psychology. Though the book works on one level as an accomplished and compelling 'who done it,' the conundrums never dominate the larger concerns-- among them, the place of psychology in understanding the complexity of human motivation and the mysteries of artistic (in this case, musical) creation. To readers familiar with Hartman's earlier, award-winning novel Perfectly Healthy Man Drops Dead, the convincing cast of characters will come as no surprise, nor will his unfailing ear for dialogue. And, as is always the case with his fiction, the narrative is spiced with an engaging sense of humor and wry commentary on life in the modern world. The Rules of Dreaming, with its exploration of the theme of schizophrenia, is a sophisticated and searching novel. From start to finish, I had difficulty putting it down, and it has inspired me to seek a greater familiarity with the music of Offenbach's Tales of Hoffmann and to reinvestigate some of the works of Freud and Jung.

I didnt know anything about this story going in, and as I read along, that lack of preconceptions helped, because this thing has more twists and turns than a politicians campaign speech. With a cast of wonderfully diverse and interesting characters, a plot that keeps you guessing until the very end and a narrator that brings it all to life, this is a story and fan of mysteries should enjoy listening to.

I was given a copy of this book free of charge by the narrrator in exchange for an honest review through Audiobook Boom.

I have to say, the subject Bruce Hartman chose to write about, is a particularly interesting and fascinating one for me. The story; set in a psychiatric institution, (the Palmer Institute) grabbed me from the start. The story is obviously written by a skilled writer, who is able to put across his ideas in an easy and profound way. The story is launched by an inmate Hunter Morgan (who has a twin sister), who unexpectedly starts playing the piano, despite anyone having any knowledge of his ability to play or musical training. The style of Hunter’s music is later described as “demonic music”. The story is often told through the first person, a doctor being the narrator but other characters also bring the story to light. The story delves into the complex subject of Schizophrenia. The story has lots of twists and turns and unexpected surprises. A very dark pleasing story that seems very well researched and well thought out. If you are brave enough to read a dark complex be sure to check out Hartmen’s uniquely original book.

I really enjoyed this book. It held my attention, kept me guessing, and I loved the descriptions of each location and character. I enjoy opera, and there was much information given about composer, and the writer Hoffmann. Dreaming is a subject that is very intriguing to many, and much of this book really made me stop and think. This writer does a great job in portraying a story. I would love to read more by him. Highly recommend. Jo

Having enjoyed "Perfectly Healthy Man Drops Dead" so much, I grabbed this as soon as I knew about it. The Rules of Dreaming is a murder mystery unlike any I've ever read before. The characters include mental patients,
psychiatrists, blackmailers, cops, and a student named Nicole who tries to make sense of what's going on in a pervading atmosphere of delusion. Nicole has a theory that certain ideas are transmitted from one generation to another like a virus, through novels, plays and operas. She begins to sense that the opera The Tales of Hoffmann is taking over the life of her psychiatrist and finally that it provides the key to the mystery.
I've never seen The Tales of Hoffmann and I don't like opera, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of this amazing book. Strongly recommended.

I love books where reality and fantasy are so well blended that you can't tell which is which. The Rules of Dreaming is that kind of book, a tale of obsession, failed love, and madness. The play The Tales of Hoffmann, that took the real-life German poet, E.T.A. Hoffmann, and made him a character in some of his own fanciful stories, is part of the story. The reader is whirled like a puppet dancer onto stage into a dark setting of art and murder where all is not as it seems. The author is pitch-perfect, pulling the strings at just the right moments, weaving a hynotic who-dunnit with eccentric, creepy characters and a powerful voice. Add to that a mental hospital and an atmosphere that would make Edgar Allan Poe proud, and you've got a winner. A twisted tale of obsession that will grab you and won't let go. Highly recommended!
Kelly Jameson, author of Dead On, What Remained of Katrina, and others

The Rules of Dreaming caught my imagination in so many ways. An
> intriguing premise (a young schizophrenic who seems to have learned to
> play the piano from nowhere), a colorful cast of characters including
> mental patients, psychiatrists, a melancholy blackmailer and a
> half-crazed literature student who comes to the conclusion that The
> Tales of Hoffmann is taking over the life of her psychiatrist, a
> creepy gothic setting, and a solid plot with a mind-blowing surprise
> at the end--what more could you ask for in a mystery novel? I'm
recommending it to all my friends.

I whipped through The Rules of Dreaming in a week, only reluctantly setting it aside. Hartman's plot was unguessable, his characters intriguing yet credible. I enjoyed the literary references and meanderings into the metaphysical, as real people became story characters and story characters became real people, as the past wove into the present, and the present curled back upon itself. Was an author from an earlier era actually somehow parading through time and space, spreading a virus, insanity, or a curse? Who was it that murdured the opera singer on the eve of her coveted debut? Quick-paced as it was, the narrative was pleasurably descriptive and merited lingering over. Smart and surprising, with a satisfying does of modern gothic horror, this book was a joy to read.

Phoebe Wilcox, author of Angels Carry the Sun Angels Carry the Sun.

This is an awesome , riviting book. Set in a mental institution, it's full of twists and turns. I couldn't put it down, but was sad when I finished it. I didn't want the story to end. Its a book I will definitely read again.

The plot of The Rules of Dreaming is convoluted and bizarre, but that's not all there is to like about this book. The writing is high quality, always a pleasant surprise in a modern mystery novel. The themes are serious without getting in the way. Hartman has an incredible imagination and he uses it to create a convincing world where fantasy, reality and delusion fade seamlessly into each other. Top notch!

The Rules of Dreaming is a fascinating mystery played out at the Palmer Institute, a small residential mental facility. Hartman weaves his plot using references to The Tales of Hoffman. It keeps one guessing right to the end. Its a great read!

I wondered if I would like this book, but decided to give it a try. It wasn't like anything I've ever read before. A little confusing at first but at the end you see what's going on and it all makes sense. Pretty amazing! I would recommend it to anyone looking for a great book to read.

I loved the way this book challenged all my expectations. Is it a mystery, a parnormal thriller, or a literary novel - or something else? Once you start reading, you stop trying to figure out the genre and just enjoy the ride. This book is a fascinating and unique experience. A great book to take along to the beach where you can sit back and let it draw you in.

The Rules of Dreaming was a fantastic read! As an avid reader of both fiction and non-fiction, I found the story line kept me engaged and contemplating right up until the end. In fact, I couldn't put the book down! Great character development and a strong plot. The literary references were intriguing and sparked my interest in some secondary reading, as well. Looking forward to reading it again!

This is a haunting and hypnotizing world that few of us can even imagine. Bruce Hartman is at the peak of his considerable literary powers here. This is a must-read for anyone who reads to discover new worlds and places they've never dreamed of. Compelling, mysterious, and full of surprises, with his trademark intrigue and stunning plot twists, I can't recommend this book highly enough.

Bruce Hartman engages the reader through plot and story line. Like his first mystery, this one acknowledges the reader's intelligence and wit and provides a opportunity for the exercise of both. This is a great read -- do yourself a favor and do more than dream of reading this one!

The Rules of Dreaming is an exciting, fast-paced thriller with enough plot twists to keep the reader guessing until the very end. Bruce Hartman's fierce intelligence and creativity are on full display in this artfully woven tale.