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Before and After
Carolyn and Ben Reiser moved to Hyland, New Hampshire with their two children for the comforts of rural life. But when the local police chief comes looking for their seventeen-year-old son Jacob to question him about the brutal murder of his girlfriend, the Reisers' lives begin to unravel. A compelling story that will capture you in the opening scene and hold you through its shocking conclusion, Before and After is a stunning novel that pits parent against parent, brother against sister, family against community, blood loyalty against law-as "deep questions of loyalty, honesty, and love are forced to the surface in this psychologically riveting tale." (Library Journal)
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
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937 people want to read
About the author
Rosellen Brown
46 books46 followersRosellen Brown (born May 12, 1939) is an American author, and has been an instructor of English and creative writing at several universities, including the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and the University of Houston. She has won several grants and awards for her work. The 1996 film Before and After was adapted from her novel of the same name.
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February 5, 2017This book fascinated me, and it's one I'll have to think about. I find it difficult to give this book a star rating, because there isn't a clear cut one I can give it.
The novel is from the point of view of the father (in first person), the mother (in third person), and the sister (third person). The question of what would you do if your child was accused of a gruesome crime is a compelling one, and it definitely had me thinking about my own family. Each character responds in his or her distinct manner, and while I felt for all of them, I didn't feel I really got to know the characters.
The writing is gorgeous. At times, it verged on too gorgeous as the voice of the 12-year-old daughter didn't quite ring true to me. But I kept turning pages, wanting to know what would happen. Jacob, the son, is accused of murder. The book is long, and occasionally it felt it, but I was glad I had read it.
The novel is from the point of view of the father (in first person), the mother (in third person), and the sister (third person). The question of what would you do if your child was accused of a gruesome crime is a compelling one, and it definitely had me thinking about my own family. Each character responds in his or her distinct manner, and while I felt for all of them, I didn't feel I really got to know the characters.
The writing is gorgeous. At times, it verged on too gorgeous as the voice of the 12-year-old daughter didn't quite ring true to me. But I kept turning pages, wanting to know what would happen. Jacob, the son, is accused of murder. The book is long, and occasionally it felt it, but I was glad I had read it.
January 27, 2024
This story has a fascinating premise: What do you, as a parent, do when you suspect - and then find out for certain - that your son has committed murder? Intriguing, right?
Unfortunately, this book manages to make getting to the good stuff - the trial, finding out the truth, the fate of the son - a long and sometimes boring journey. I don't usually take two weeks to read a book, even one that is almost 400 pages. There were many nights when I intended to read longer the book put me to sleep.
The story is told from three points of view: Ben, the father, told in first person; Carolyn, the mother, told in third person; and Judith, the daughter (and sister), also told in third person. I don't object to changing from first to third person if there is a logical reason for it, but I really couldn't see one. The reader does not get to know Ben any better than the other characters, either in the segments he narrates or the ones where we see his actions through the eyes of others.
For that matter, despite the length of the novel and the changing viewpoints, we do not get to know any of the characters very well. We sees their actions, but are not told their thoughts and motives. Occasionally, with Ben, we do get motives, but in that case, the author seems deliberately evasive about other aspects of the story. For example, we learn why Ben won't testify against his son, but we do not get to witness the scene in the courtroom where the grand jury is questioning him and we first learn about his feelings regarding the bond between parents and children, something he learned from his father.
We learn that Ben has a temper, and the son, Jacob (the murderer), has an even worse one. Jacob is revealed early on as at least a sociopath and possibly a psychopath. The daughter, Judith, witnesses some of his less savory activities, such as stoning a dog, and Jacob's forcing Judith to manually masturbate him. Later in the novel there are vague mentions of distasteful (and worse) events witnessed by friends and other members of the town, but no specifics are given.
This is what is so frustrating about this book. The reader has to slog through reams and reams of pointless prose which does not advance the story nor reveal anything about the characters that we don't already know, yet there are many key scenes and incidents which are glossed over without any specifics. In fact, the reader does not get to witness the trial at all.
Since all the family members were witnesses, they were not allowed in the courtroom unless they were testifying. The trial was videotaped and the family was able to watch the video after it was all over.
The main question that is posed, and it is an interesting one, is whether a parent should lie to protect his/her son from being sent to prison, possibly for life. Jacob admits to the killing, but states he struck the victim only once. Carolyn, a pediatrician, saw the body long before she knew Jacob was a suspect. The victim's head was almost completely bashed in. It is never clear whether Carolyn told Ben the extent of the victim's injuries, but that wouldn't have mattered to Ben. Ben concocts a believable story that gives room for reasonable doubt that Jacob is the killer. Carolyn ultimately refuses to go along with the lie, and in her testimony tells the story as Jacob originally told it.
Naturally this causes tension, not to mention fights, between Ben and Carolyn. And here is another place the depth of emotion of the characters is not revealed. Most couples would split over such a radical difference in the way they treat their children. Couples split over differences in their views on spanking, much less testifying in court and possibly condemning your child to a life sentence. Yet this couple stays together, even though it is obvious that after two trials, and two mistrials, Carolyn's feelings toward Jacob are not the same as they were before she discovered the truth about him.
Unfortunately, this book manages to make getting to the good stuff - the trial, finding out the truth, the fate of the son - a long and sometimes boring journey. I don't usually take two weeks to read a book, even one that is almost 400 pages. There were many nights when I intended to read longer the book put me to sleep.
The story is told from three points of view: Ben, the father, told in first person; Carolyn, the mother, told in third person; and Judith, the daughter (and sister), also told in third person. I don't object to changing from first to third person if there is a logical reason for it, but I really couldn't see one. The reader does not get to know Ben any better than the other characters, either in the segments he narrates or the ones where we see his actions through the eyes of others.
For that matter, despite the length of the novel and the changing viewpoints, we do not get to know any of the characters very well. We sees their actions, but are not told their thoughts and motives. Occasionally, with Ben, we do get motives, but in that case, the author seems deliberately evasive about other aspects of the story. For example, we learn why Ben won't testify against his son, but we do not get to witness the scene in the courtroom where the grand jury is questioning him and we first learn about his feelings regarding the bond between parents and children, something he learned from his father.
We learn that Ben has a temper, and the son, Jacob (the murderer), has an even worse one. Jacob is revealed early on as at least a sociopath and possibly a psychopath. The daughter, Judith, witnesses some of his less savory activities, such as stoning a dog, and Jacob's forcing Judith to manually masturbate him. Later in the novel there are vague mentions of distasteful (and worse) events witnessed by friends and other members of the town, but no specifics are given.
This is what is so frustrating about this book. The reader has to slog through reams and reams of pointless prose which does not advance the story nor reveal anything about the characters that we don't already know, yet there are many key scenes and incidents which are glossed over without any specifics. In fact, the reader does not get to witness the trial at all.
Since all the family members were witnesses, they were not allowed in the courtroom unless they were testifying. The trial was videotaped and the family was able to watch the video after it was all over.
The main question that is posed, and it is an interesting one, is whether a parent should lie to protect his/her son from being sent to prison, possibly for life. Jacob admits to the killing, but states he struck the victim only once. Carolyn, a pediatrician, saw the body long before she knew Jacob was a suspect. The victim's head was almost completely bashed in. It is never clear whether Carolyn told Ben the extent of the victim's injuries, but that wouldn't have mattered to Ben. Ben concocts a believable story that gives room for reasonable doubt that Jacob is the killer. Carolyn ultimately refuses to go along with the lie, and in her testimony tells the story as Jacob originally told it.
Naturally this causes tension, not to mention fights, between Ben and Carolyn. And here is another place the depth of emotion of the characters is not revealed. Most couples would split over such a radical difference in the way they treat their children. Couples split over differences in their views on spanking, much less testifying in court and possibly condemning your child to a life sentence. Yet this couple stays together, even though it is obvious that after two trials, and two mistrials, Carolyn's feelings toward Jacob are not the same as they were before she discovered the truth about him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2014
I hated it. Way too much boring details that had nothing to do with the plot, which wasn't that great anyway. And the ending was anti-climactic.
I haven't seen it, but I hear the movie is great.
I haven't seen it, but I hear the movie is great.
March 5, 2013
I loved the movie, and usually if I love the movie, I love the book even more. NOT so with this book. I picked it up at a paperback sale and it was like swimming through lava to get through it. It just dragged on and on and on and on. The different POV were interesting (although I don't get why Ben was written in first person and Judith and Carolyn in second person) and I am sure that the scattered train of thought of the parents was meant to accurately portray just how scattered any parents would be if this happened to their family. Very different from the movie in terms of what REALLY happened with Jacob and Martha Taverner...and as I was reading Carolyn's part in the book, I could hear Meryl Streep talking. Same with Jacob and Edward Furlong. Very unusual for me to like a movie more, but in this case...the movie was better.
Favorite quote: "First off, you're in New Hampshire, Ben. This isn't Texas, one of those wild and crazy Southern states that love to pull the lever."
I find that funny because Houston is where they end up moving to after the trial!!!
Favorite quote: "First off, you're in New Hampshire, Ben. This isn't Texas, one of those wild and crazy Southern states that love to pull the lever."
I find that funny because Houston is where they end up moving to after the trial!!!
October 17, 2017
Here's the thing. It started out pretty solid. It did. I enjoyed about the first half or so (around page 220-ish?). Right until Jacob came back home. After that, it DRAGGED. I can normally finish a book in a couple of days. I got to page 200 in about 3 days. The last 5 were trying to finish it.
It was painful, almost. It started out so promising and I had such high hopes for it. Reading it for a psychological perspective is great. As the book to read before bed, it's fantastic and a lot better than Sleepy time tea. For a comfortable afternoon on the porch? Just...no.
It was painful, almost. It started out so promising and I had such high hopes for it. Reading it for a psychological perspective is great. As the book to read before bed, it's fantastic and a lot better than Sleepy time tea. For a comfortable afternoon on the porch? Just...no.
March 20, 2008
Great book on the challenges and and resilience of a family tragedy. Gives each members stuggle dealing with their high profile after the son accidentally/impulsively kills his girlfriend in a small town.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2017
The scenario a set a parents is suddenly confronted with and how each one reacts makes for a page- turning account that will keep you going to the end. The story at times frustrated me at the same time that it caused me to ask "what would I have done"?
September 15, 2007
A powerful concept: an event that is so cataclysmic that it divides your life forever into "before and after."
December 11, 2023
I’ve had this book on my shelf for years and I finally read it. The concept sounded great and the amazing reviews on the back cover just reeled you in, sparking a great interest.
It turned out to be a disappointing read for a few reasons. One - Ms. Brown’s writing style is incredibly drawn out with a huge amount of information I believe is meant to provide the emotional and psychological background of the characters, but you can skim through quite a lot of it without missing anything important. Two - unfortunately the lead character was the least likable one so I had a hard time sympathizing with him. Three - based on some revelations from Judith about Jacob, it was hard to sympathize with him as well. Four - although it is Jacob’s story, he seems unreal, like a shadow in the background, and we only know what happened based on his words. Five - the ending is flat and anticlimactic.
Now that I’ve finally read the book, I’d love to watch the movie, even though I know it’s different from the book. So far I haven’t found it streaming without paying extra to buy or rent it, which I refuse to do. I’m hoping to get more resolution from the movie than I did from the book. Hopefully it will be available at some point.
I don’t recommend reading this book, but if you do, keep your expectations low.
It turned out to be a disappointing read for a few reasons. One - Ms. Brown’s writing style is incredibly drawn out with a huge amount of information I believe is meant to provide the emotional and psychological background of the characters, but you can skim through quite a lot of it without missing anything important. Two - unfortunately the lead character was the least likable one so I had a hard time sympathizing with him. Three - based on some revelations from Judith about Jacob, it was hard to sympathize with him as well. Four - although it is Jacob’s story, he seems unreal, like a shadow in the background, and we only know what happened based on his words. Five - the ending is flat and anticlimactic.
Now that I’ve finally read the book, I’d love to watch the movie, even though I know it’s different from the book. So far I haven’t found it streaming without paying extra to buy or rent it, which I refuse to do. I’m hoping to get more resolution from the movie than I did from the book. Hopefully it will be available at some point.
I don’t recommend reading this book, but if you do, keep your expectations low.
September 30, 2021
I learned about this book years ago but avoided it and the movie as the subject sounded like one that would cause many disturbed and sleepless nights. But over the past year, I've read many books that were dramatic enough to pull me out of the chaos of the world we're currently in, and I came across this in a Little Free Library and read it.
The story is told from the point of view of the father (in first person), the mother (in third person), and the sister (third person). The novel poses the question of how far parents might go to protect their child from facing the consequences of a gruesome crime. I don't agree with other reviewers that there is filler; in fact, I found it to be a beautifully written introspective from each of the characters.
The reader sees how two loving parents can have very different ways of looking at what is right. The sister's voice brought an important perspective from the "easy" child and I wish we would have heard more from her.
In the end, I was left just as disturbed as I expected and I think that's the point. Brown's writing is nuanced and haunting and I will definitely read more from her.
The story is told from the point of view of the father (in first person), the mother (in third person), and the sister (third person). The novel poses the question of how far parents might go to protect their child from facing the consequences of a gruesome crime. I don't agree with other reviewers that there is filler; in fact, I found it to be a beautifully written introspective from each of the characters.
The reader sees how two loving parents can have very different ways of looking at what is right. The sister's voice brought an important perspective from the "easy" child and I wish we would have heard more from her.
In the end, I was left just as disturbed as I expected and I think that's the point. Brown's writing is nuanced and haunting and I will definitely read more from her.
January 1, 2020
Here's a book that I have wanted to read forever. I started to watch the movie at one time (I really like Liam Neeson) and then for whatever reason I only saw about the first 3rd. I bought a copy of the paperback some time ago and but again never got around to reading it. It was one of the books that was randomly selected for my TBR challenge and I was really excited. And then I read it and I was really disappointed. The premise of the book was so interesting but then the story turned into more of a dissection of the family's life and their backgrounds and the author just lost me. A high school young man is suspected of killing his girlfriend. His father, with no further knowledge of the circumstances, attempts to help his son by disposing of things that seem to indicate he may have actually committed the crime.
October 31, 2021
DNF. First book I couldn’t finish in all my life of reading. This was awful and too wordsy. The author was too busy setting the scene instead of actually telling the story. By the time they get back to the characters and their convo and actually continuing with the plot of the story you’re too confused by the over detail into the scene and the unnecessary scenes within the scenes to really know what’s currently happening. Sorry if that was confusing but omg I have no idea what I was reading half the time. Took me about a quarter into the book to even understand who each character was and what their role in the story was. Awful just awful. I’ve never felt so miserable while reading.
August 1, 2017
What a waste of time as well as a load of crap. Murderer (white teen) who confessed to bashing his girlfriend's head in until she died goes free because his parents loved him?? Really??
I wish I had been given a clue before beginning this book that it would be this weak and honestly, this insulting. A more appropriate title would have been "White & Privileged" not Before & After.
Don't waste your time on this one.
I wish I had been given a clue before beginning this book that it would be this weak and honestly, this insulting. A more appropriate title would have been "White & Privileged" not Before & After.
Don't waste your time on this one.
April 13, 2021
I loved this book, and wish there are more like it. It was an engaging story about a son who is under suspicion of killing his girlfriend, which puts the whole family on trial. We get a good look inside family life, even when it starts to break down due to immense pressure, as well as the horrible ways in which a community can punish the families of criminals, believing them somehow guilty by association. This is a book I would recommend to anyone with even a passing interest in reading.
July 5, 2021
3.5 stars rounded up. This book is definitely not for everyone- it seems more of a character study involving and entire family- although we never get insight into Jacob’s mind, only his parents & young sister. The ending was anticlimactic, and it was pretty obvious from the beginning of the book what Jacob did. It was interesting to see the two parents form their own views and take their own stands. I would recommend but only if you like books that really get into the nitty-gritty.
January 11, 2022
It was a good book, but had a lot of details sometimes. The way that the story goes, the points of view of every character give to the reader a piece of the feeling each character felt because of the situation that happens in the book.
Also, I believe that the book plays with your moral and the way that you would act in situations like abuse, death cause by one of your relatives
Also, I believe that the book plays with your moral and the way that you would act in situations like abuse, death cause by one of your relatives
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2018
Rosellen Brown is a new (to me) favorite author. She is a brilliant, lyrical writer. This 1992 book is very different from her new one, The Lake on Fire, but I loved it a lot. Can't wait to read another!
August 18, 2019
Impossible for me to believe any aspect of the ending of this book. Further, I always feel that the writer is mediocre with the approach of a chapter view by each character. Bring the story together unless you're writing a movie script, and perhaps this author was.
July 24, 2017
the stories is very good , but there so much said that just confuse me and lost the stories , with too much, i watch the movie , that is lot better then the book .
April 28, 2018
Could have been written much more clearly
Hard to follow tangents many times. The auther was trying to paint a psychological portrayal of each character, but did a very poor job
Hard to follow tangents many times. The auther was trying to paint a psychological portrayal of each character, but did a very poor job
July 22, 2018
Such great story telling, the family of the accused is a viewpoint not often written about.
October 31, 2018
i really should have just dnf’d this
January 6, 2019
A must read for any mother of a son. Makes you ponder how far would you go to protect him. I loved this book!
February 11, 2019
While I enjoyed reading the book, it did not make much sense to me. The families response was inappropriate for a crime that was so serious.
February 27, 2019
Incredibly tedious. The only mystery was "did he or didn't he" which was revealed about halfway through, but everything else was, I guess, a "family drama" with nothing to hold one's interest.
March 4, 2019
Son kills girlfriend that tears apart family
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2020
Boring at times and hard to get through. Don't waste your time.
August 8, 2020
Didn’t much care for this book. The author used too much filler to extend the length of the book. That’s what it felt like to me and it wasn’t very interesting.
September 21, 2020
Thumbs down
December 13, 2020
Brings up situations where the reader asks "What would I do in similar circumstances?" Very believable characters kept me reading right along. I found it an excellent read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews