The Story of Before

by Susan Stairs

alternate cover edition for ISBN: 9780857899071

On New Year's Eve, eleven-year-old Ruth and her brother and sister sit at a bedroom window, watching the garden of their new Dublin home being covered in a thick blanket of snow. Ruth declares that a bad thing will happen in the coming year - she's sure of it. But she cannot see the outline of that thing - she cannot know that it will change their lives utterly, that the shape of their future will be carved into two parts; the before and the after.
Or that it will break her heart and break her family.
This is Ruth's story. It is the story of before.

Genres: Book Club, Fiction, Irish Literature

Unknown Binding

First published June 1, 2013

About the author

Susan Stairs has lived in Ireland since early childhood. After working in the art business for many years and writing several books around the theme of Irish art, she completed an MA in Creative Writing at University College Dublin in 2009. In the same year,she was one of six writers shortlisted by Richard Ford for the Davy Byrnes Irish Writing Award. She lives in Dublin with her family. The Story of Before is her first novel.

Reviews

[Clare Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have one thing to say:

No no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the opening lines of The Story of Before, Susan Stairs shows herself to be a master of building tension within a novel. She writes in the opening paragraphs 'So I wonder today how no one else could see the bad thing coming'. Gradually, over the course of twenty-one chapters, the ominous feeling builds to the devastating finale, an ending that stays with you long after you've read the book.

The story opens up in the 1970s with the protagonist Ruth and her family moving to a new estate just outside Dublin. The characters of the estate are vividly described; the author's ability to create a full cast of characters that feel rounded and believable deserves huge praise. I was totally engrossed. Also, the descriptions of Ruth's family life, the squabbling between siblings, is wonderfully captured.

However, this is a book where small issues slowly evolve into major battles. Each chapter, the stakes are raised higher, the tension between the new family and the original residents of the estate grows till finally, the 'bad thing' that was foretold at the outset occurs. Tissues, at this point, seem to be a necessity.

The Story of Before is an outstanding example of how to build tension in a book, right up there with The Secret History and The Virgin Suicides. What is wonderful about this book is not only the fantastic plot but the beautifully edited prose that flows from line to line. I read this book in three days, despite it being at least 90,000 words. When prose and plot meet like this, it creates a very special book.

[Karina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Atmospheric, spot on descriptions of Dublin in the 1970s...especially what it was like to be a child on a housing estate. The sights, sounds, smells, attitudes are brilliantly evocative; the freedom children had alongside the dangers they faced; the closed off world children inhabit that adults are seemingly blind to; the way that there is often an 'outsider' family in the area that can channel all the road's anxieties yet be grudgingly accepted.
Yes, I did grow up in the 1970s on a Dublin housing estate, so I have a yardstick to measure the experiences of the characters by, but this is much better than a nostalgia inspired tale. By turns eerie, funny, heartbreaking and nailbitingly tense, this is a page turner that is wonderfully written.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a sad little tale, not one to read/listen to if you don't like stories involving death of children. This isn't a spoiler, because the narrator says at the outset that the story will end with the death of one of them. It is quite clear from the outset which one of them it is, but when the end comes it is still very shocking.

All in all, a good story, albeit shocking in places, and quite upsetting.

[Kylie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had previously read this. Enjoyed it a little less this time. Hard to know if this was because of my change to reading more literature style of books, or just less interest when re-reading. Quite a good storyline and I really liked Ruth.

[Geraldine Rooney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve read some of the other reviews and don’t want to be the only one to give a not so good one, the story held me until the last chapter it was a brilliant read until then, I just found it left so many unanswered questions like why did shayne do what he did? What punishment did he receive? And we never found out who the strange man was!!! Unless maybe there’s a part two?

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't say enough about this book, having been out of reading for some time I really wanted something that I could really enjoy, I came across "the story of before" and thought sure why not!! I couldn't leave this book down!!! This book is gripping, fabulously written and has you intrigued from the beginning, it's one of those books you hate finishing because you'll spend so long trying to find another - it left me wanting to read more. Praise for Susan Stairs can't wait for the next !!!!

[SWC · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like going along the library shelves and reading book titles until I come to a book whose title and introduction intrigue me enough to check out the book. Such was the case with this book. The story is told from the viewpoint of 11 year old Ruth. Ruth has an older brother and older sister and soon arrives a new brother. The story of 'before' had enough intrigue to keep me reading until it became 'after'.

[MostMagenta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very well written book. The story of Ruth, living in Ireland in the 1970's and the events that took place after her family moved to a housing estate. The author has evoked such a feeling of atmosphere that I felt transported into Ruth's world and partly back to my own carefree childhood days when we ran in the streets till dark, our parents not knowing where we were, but assuming all was safe and well. Until it isn't....

[Lorraine Kehoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the read really like Ruth's character but didn't rush to pick it when I got home in the evenings

[Sian]

Spoiler potential- I could not continue reading this when I got to a part with infanticide. Well written but having recently had a baby I couldn’t read on.

[T · Rating 4 out of 5]

An evocative story, with hidden gems of humour with a dark forbodding that leaves the reader unnerved almost throughout the entire book. Despite knowing the story ends in tragedy, I was still shocked and then hopeful that all would end well but alas I was left a crying mess instead.

[aifosaluna · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, I want to congratulate Susan Stairs for making this remarkable book.
I really loved the book and still don't know what to do now ('cause still having a hangover).
She was really smart in doing the twist and everything. I didn't end up crying because I was mad at a certain character and I was shocked in what happened, and still can't believe that HE really did it.

ATTENTION! ATTENTION ALL readers-who've-not-yet-read-this-book! PLEASE STOP READING THIS REVIEW FOR IT MAY CRUSH YOUR VERY EXPECTATIONS OF THIS BOOK. THANK YOU!

Moving on...
(SPOILER ALERT)


Ruth is an eleven-year-old when she started in the book, but ended as a fourteen-year-old at the story. She is very observant and has an inborn feeling about things, and she told her siblings (Mel and Sandra both 12 years old) that something bad will happen this year. Especially at first, they didn't believe her, but as days pass by, what she said was true. Someone died in her family, her new baby brother (Kevin) was thrown from the top of the tree by Shayne Lawless. I can't believe why he did that, I think he was INSANE. He has no heart. I am also angry at Ruth. Why? It is because she left her brother in a pram outside the graveyard JUST to find her cardigan that slipped off Kevin's legs. Who would ever do such a thing? Except for Ruth. I thought that she was really clever in sensing that bad things are going to happen, well she is, but she was really DUMB in thinking of leaving her brother even for a while. Why did she still do that? She once left her brother outside the store to buy HP sauce, and when she went back, her brother was missing! I thought that she wouldn't do it again, even though she found her brother at the green (a large space where kids hangout and where certain activities were held) in the arms of David O'dea (a fourteen-year-old boy but ended up as a sixteen-year-old boy which makes him the eldest of the kids hanging out the green). Of course she was mad and couldn't believe why he done it. When she came near him, Shayne Lawless suddenly said that why did David get Kevin and knowing that Ruth would get mad. Of course she brought Kevin home with keeping her mouth shut of what happened. Their whole neighborhood got mad at them when days passed by. No need to elaborate. Then David fell off a tree breaking his left wrist making him unable to compete with his piano competition. A news spread that he deliberately threw himself for him not to compete with the piano competition. I mean, who would do such a thing? David I guess. BUT NO NO NO a thousand nos, he wouldn't do that, unless he slipped of or someone pushed him (guessed it right?)... You know what? Why not read the book, it's more detailed than what I am telling you here, hope you understand (still having a hangover from the twist).

Just comment if you liked the review.
'Till my last words from this review
~Books-I-Love


P.S.
Sorry for crushing your very expectations of this book, and please don't blame me for telling you. It was your fault by the way.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I wonder today how no one else could see the bad thing coming. Not that I knew back then what the bad thing was; and if I had - if I'd known one of us was going to die - would there have been anything I could have done to prevent it? I play back in my mind, over and over. The clues were all there."


These are the words of eleven-year-old Ruth, the narrator of The Story of Before. Ruth and her family have just moved into their new Dublin home, away from the house that her Daddy grew up in which became too small for them when baby Kevin was born. Kevin arrived early, on the day that they moved to the new house, he lived there for all of his life.

Ruth can often tell that something is going to happen, just little things usually, but this time things feel different; whatever is going to happen is going to change their lives, but Ruth doesn't know yet what it will be.

Susan Stairs has created an extraordinary voice in Ruth, she narrates this story with the innocence of a child, but the insight of someone so much older. The sense of both the 70s era and the insular neighbourhood of the Dublin suburb are beautifully observed, the reader is transported smack bang into times when children had more freedom, the summer was long and hot and parents didn't have to worry.

Although this is a story of heartbreak and tragedy and features much sadness and the problems that families tend to hide behind their front doors, it is also Ruth's story. Her family is strong, her parents love one another, her older siblings are close and Ruth feels a little left out. The arrival of baby brother Kevin, is a turning point for her, along with trying to fit into the already closely formed friendship groups on the new estate. Ruth makes many mistakes along the way. Choosing the wrong boy to befriend ultimately leads to the incident that will shape the family for ever more.

The Story of Before is an engrossing read that I really found difficult to put down. I found myself living Ruth's life for her and hoping against hope that her instinct that something bad would happen was wrong.

This is an outstanding debut from Susan Stairs that will keep the reader turning the pages late into the night.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to have been sent this book direct from the publisher. When I received it i decided to get straight at it and I began.

This story is told through the eyes of Ruth, a sibling living in the 1970's in Ireland. Ruth feels left out as her older siblings are so close, this is until Kev comes along, she is left to look after him on numerous occasions.

It is an intriguing read and to be honest I didn't think much was happening, however it was Susan Stairs building tension, she has created a vivid read and I felt I was part of the family.

From reading the blurb I knew something bad was going to happen, when reading the book as I was looking out for something it gave lots of twists and turns as I thought I knew what the bad thing was, but then I was wrong - something else was then in the frame to be it, however I was wrong again. This kept me reading as I wanted to know what it was!

I found the story originally difficult to get into as like I said I felt nothing much was happening, however there became a turning point in the story where suddenly everything made sense and I understood. From this point I whizzed through the book and couldn't put it down. I cannot believe that this is Susan Stairs debut novel as I felt the way it has been executed was very good.

I would urge others to read this book as it will stay with you for a long time and I cannot wait to read more by Susan Stairs You can read this review and more at mrsbbooks2011.blogspot.co.uk

[Jacki (Julia Flyte) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruth is eleven. She lives in a housing estate in 1970s Ireland, with her parents, her older brother and sister and infant brother. Ruth is a sharply observant and thoughtful child who occasionally has premonitions when things are about to happen. When the book opens, it's New Year's Eve and she gets a strong sense that something very bad will happen to their family over the coming year.

As the title suggests, much of this book is the "story of before" - it immediately goes back 18 months in time and takes two thirds of the book to work its way back to the New Year's Eve that we began with. It's narrated by Ruth and through her eyes we learn about the inhabitants of the housing estate and the dynamics within her family. Because you know you're building towards something - in the opening chapter she suggests it's a death - there is a feeling of menace throughout, as the author skillfully plants several possible scenarios in your mind.

I loved the way this debut author writes. The writing style is tremendously evocative and although I grew up on the other side of the world from Ireland, there were several little references that triggered long dormant memories of my own childhood. The characters are all so rounded and real. The book simply feels true, as if this really happened, as if these people really lived. While the central story is interesting it's also quite simple, but the writing elevates it to something even better. My only criticism is that it felt a little bit that the author didn't know how to end the story, with the ending feeling a little awkward and drawn out.

A terrific debut novel from a gifted writer.

[Cal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a difficult book for me to review as I loved it up until a certain point - but once we reached the pivotal moment that the whole story was leading up to, it made such a huge, painful impact that I could no longer continue to read for some time as I was crying so much.

Yes, we were warned 'something bad' was going to happen and that it would involve a death, but nothing could have prepared me for what actually did happen and that it would involve the murder of a baby. I can't really go into what did happen without spoiling it for those of you who haven't read it yet, other than to say it was hugely triggery for me and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it ever since.

The 3.5 stars I've rated this novel is for the writing and character building alone. It's a beautifully written book, but in all honesty it made me feel sick to my stomach and incredibly distressed, which isn't necessarily something I want from my reading material.

'The Story of Before' touched me on a very personal level and my rating reflects that. When I read a book I'm transported inside the story, so much so that I feel as though I'm actually there. And this book, as well written as it was, took me somewhere I didn't want to go. Somewhere painful and dark, somewhere I've been trying my hardest to move forward from. The story itself has no similarity whatsoever to my own personal situation, but the 'bad thing' that happened triggered a response in me that I wasn't expecting.

But if I put aside my own personal feelings when it comes to 'The Story of Before'? My rating would have been a good, solid 4.5 stars. A beautifully written, but deeply disturbing novel.

[Laura Crosse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm giving this a high rating for two major reasons. One, this is an Irish author and I'm an unashamed, biased, patriotic Irishwoman. And two, it was haunting in such a way I know I'll be thinking about it for weeks. You know those books that you read and for some reason or other in a years time you'll find yourself mulling the storyline over in your head wondering if you're remembering it correctly or would it be worth reading again?

I mean surely I'm not the only one who does this right? Right?

Anyway it's set in Dublin in the seventies and the author did a fantastic job of bringing this to life as much as possible between the lack of technology and the reliance on 'the green' as children's one stop shop for fun and frolics.

To be honest it wasn't a million miles away from my own childhood even though I grew up in the nineties and in the countryside. I had a father who referred to any channel that wasn't Irish as a 'filthy foreign channel'... Hence us growing up with just RTE One and Two until TV3 came into existence. He was just recently converted to Netflix and we didn't see him for about a week straight.

Anyway I'm getting slightly off the mark. This book was good. The characters drew you in and kept you guessing until the very end. Stairs is clearly a master of suspense and I was hooked from only a chapter or two into it. I'd recommend to anyone who likes a good mystery, suspense, thriller, drama type book!

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I wonder today how no one else could see the bad thing coming. Not that I knew back then what the bad thing was; and if I had - if I'd known one of us was going to die - would there have been anything I could have done to prevent it? I play it all back in my mind, over and over. The clues were all there."

The Story of Before is set in Ireland during the 1970s and is told from eleven year old Ruth's point of view. On New Years Eve she's watching it snow with her brother Mel and sister Sandra when she tells them she's sure something bad is going to happen in the coming year. Their baby brother Kevin is born on the day the family move to a new home on a Dublin housing estate.


I read this in just two days, it is very atmospheric and the tension builds throughout the story making it difficult to put down, I thought the descriptions of what it's like to be a child growing up on a housing estate were excellent. I kept trying to work out what the bad thing was but there were a few false alarms and twists which stopped me from getting it right, when everything is revealed it's heartbreaking and not made any less so by the fact you know something awful is going to happen.

A very good debut novel from Susan Stairs and I look forward to reading more by her.

[Nigel Goggin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Susan Stairs is a hugely evocative writer. I read The Story of Before while on holiday recently. I was abroad but as I read I was quickly transported back to the estate where I grew up in Dublin.

The Story of Before is told from the viewpoint of a young girl and brings out childhood feelings and memories you have probably long forgotten. The anxious anticipation of being given out to by your parents when they find out you did something wrong, the first stirrings of attraction to another person but not understanding what it is, even the damp feeling from your breath on the inside of a child's plastic Halloween mask.

Susan Stairs' novel is a story of growing up, friendships, wanting to fit in. She builds tension almost from the first page which keeps you from wanting to put it down. This book stayed with me long after I had finished it, a sign of a good writer. I really enjoyed The Story of Before and highly recommend it to all, but especially to those who grew up in the 70s or 80s. It will remind you of things you haven't thought about in years!

[Bonnieshortall · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written novel, made even more so by the fact that it is the author's first. The attention to character detail is astounding, from beginning to end, and I was left feeling as if I personally met each and every one of them.

The suspense created throughout the novel is nothing short of amazing. From the very first paragraph, I was wondering, turning pages, eager like never before to find out what the so called bad thing was.

My most favourite aspect of the novel was the ending (no spoilers!). Not only was I happy with how Stairs ended something that most writers would find difficult to put an ending to, I was also able to form my own opinions, potentially completely different from the next reader, as to they whys, whats and whos. Never a dull moment on any page.

Reading at its finest. I couldn't recommend it more.

[Judith Yeabsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book from the first page. Nothing much happens so it should be really slow and boring but it was totally gripping right from the start. The tension that builds throughout the novel is perfectly balanced so there is interest and emotional investment without frustration. The ending was also fabulous as it didn't end with "the incident" but dealt in depth with the fallout - surely the hardest part to write but also the section that stays with the reader. Emotionally invested - Yes, involved with the characters - Yes!

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book set amidst a small community in Ireland. Ruth and her family have moved to the village after the birth of her younger brother. Ruth has the ability to fortell when things are about to happen. Two of the village boys start to take an interest in Ruth, going between playing tricks on her to taking her into their confidence. Friendships start to fray and Ruth and her family are being ostracized by the rest of the village. A tragedy occurs and the fallout affects Ruth and her family forever.

[Janet Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic book. Vividly atmospheric and descriptive - especially to anyone who grew up in the 70s - without ever feeling slow, The Story of Before manages to be nostalgic, funny, perceptive, suspenseful and chilling all at once. There were surprises at every turn and I was never sure who was telling the truth. It's the kind of book that has you talking out loud to the characters. ('What the hell are you doing? Go back!') My favourite bits were the unsentimental picture of sibling dynamics, and the sense of the 70s brought back to life.

[Catriona · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written book about an Irish family in the seventies. It takes the reader to a housing estate and the author weaves her tragic story around the characters living on the estate. The story is told through Ruth's eyes, an eleven year old who is caught between childhood and adolescence. It is slightly slow to begin with but by halfway through I was racing through the pages, unable to put the book down.

[Sallyann Van leeuwen · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars The premise is good, a young girl has an impending sense of doom when moving to new estate. There are some interesting characters in this neighborhood and she doesn't know who to trust. And when the unthinkable happens, her allegiance is questioned. Unfortunatelythe book was overly long in parts that dragged and short in the scenes that made it interesting. The ending is dragged out too, without any reason.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story of a Dublin family's move to a new community and the trouble the narrator (an 11 year old named Ruth) has fitting in. Troubled teens, hypocritical neighbours, lies and violence all come out in the next two years. A page turner but I found that Ruth, who begins the story as a mature, thoughtful, caring child ends up being a bit spiteful and puts her faith in the wrong place which I felt was a bit far fetched.

[Frances · Rating 3 out of 5]

The tension builds with each chapter of this book and at times I felt reluctant to read on and learn the awful truth which lay behind the story. Stairs skillfully describes family relationships and explores the impact of lies and half-truths as the Lamb family try to settle in their new home but find themselves treated as outsiders in the estate. A difficult but worthwhile read.

[Cliona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the suspense throughout the book and having grown up in Dublin at the same time - I continually lol'd at the description of suburban life. Thanks Helen Stairs for the book! A great holiday read.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know, this had me going for a while until I got bored and wanted the author to just cut to the chase. That chase was worth it but by then I was just glad to be moving along so didn't get to savor it. That's my fault and not the author's though. I'd throw in another half star if I knew how.