How many times have you thought, “this has got to be true—no one could make this up?” Well, in 1929, Huston Curtiss was seven years old, living with his beautiful, opinionated mother (whose image is on the cover of this book), and surrounded by their romantic, fiercely independent, and often certifiably insane relatives. Huston has never before written about that time—an era of racism and repression, a time when this country was still relatively young, an age of quirky individualism and almost frontier-style freedom that largely has ceased to exist. Fearful he would not be believed, on one hand, but desirous of the freedom to embellish, on the other, Curtiss chronicles that time inSins of the Seventh Sister, a book he characterizes as “a novel based on a true story of the gothic South.” It is his story and the story of the people of Elkins, West Virginia, a small town whose inhabitants included his mother, Billy-Pearl Curtiss, and her many sisters—all stunning blondes. Billy-Pearl would prove to be an irresistibly romantic figure in her son’s life. She was the seventh of eleven children, all girls to her father’s consternation. By the time of her arrival, her father felt he had been patient enough and insisted on calling her Billy; he taught her everything he had intended to impart to his firstborn son. She would grow up to be one of the most beautiful women in the county, but also one of the most opinionated and liberal. Her aim was so precise that she was barred from the local turkey shoot because none of the men had a chance against her. When a Klansman accused her of attempted homicide after she shot him through the shoulder to stop him from setting fire to the home of her black neighbors, she told the sheriff, “If I had meant to kill him, he’d be dead.” And with that defense, she was exonerated. Curtiss Farm was large and the house had many rooms, which Billy-Pearl got in the habit of gathering people to fill, especially the downtrodden who had nowhere to go. In May 1929, Billy-Pearl brought home a boy from the local orphanage. Stanley was sixteen, the age at which the orphanage kicked children out, and Billy-Pearl, knowing his sad history, could not allow him to end up on the streets. Stanley had witnessed his father beat his mother to death in a drunken rage and had taken a straight razor and slit his father’s throat while he slept. A country judge had the boy castrated to control his aggressive ways. Not a boy, but not yet a man, Stanley was tall, willowy, and frightened as a colt upon his arrival at Curtiss Farm—not at all the playmate for whom Huston had hoped. But quickly a friendship developed between the two that would last a lifetime—a friendship that would survive murder, suicide, madness, and Stanley’s eventual transformation into Stella, a singer who would live her adult life as a glamorous woman. Sins of the Seventh Sisteris brilliantly conceived and masterfully written, as alive with flamboyant characters and wildly uncontained emotions as any book to come out of the South.

Powerful, page-turning and deeply moving, Naomi Ragen's The Sisters Weiss is an unforgettable examination of loyalty and betrayal; the differences that can tear a family apart and the invisible bonds that tie them together. In 1950's Brooklyn, sisters Rose and Pearl Weiss grow up in a loving but strict ultra-Orthodox family, never dreaming of defying their parents or their community's unbending and intrusive demands. Then, a chance meeting with a young French immigrant turns Rose's world upside down, its once bearable strictures suddenly tightening like a noose around her neck. In rebellion, she begins to live a secret life – a life that shocks her parents when it is discovered. With nowhere else to turn, and an overwhelming desire to be reconciled with those she loves, Rose tries to bow to her parents' demands that she agree to an arranged marriage. But pushed to the edge, she commits an act so unforgivable, it will exile her forever from her innocent young sister, her family, and all she has ever known. Forty years later, pious Pearl's sheltered young daughter Rivka suddenly discovers the ugly truth about her Aunt Rose, the outcast, who has moved on to become a renowned photographer. Inspired, but nave and reckless, Rivka sets off on a dangerous adventure that will stir up the ghosts of the past, and alter the future in unimaginable ways for all involved.

Get help from expert scholars in understanding the scriptures. What does That verse mean? How should I interpret this passage? What is the significance of this word or phrase in Hebrew or Aramaic? How do Bible-time customs help me understand the meaning of this passage? How does the information on the author, historical background, and features of a Bible book help interpret that book? The Bible Knowledge Commentary answers these and other questions about the Scriptures, discussing all the Bible verse by verse and often phrase by phrase. In addition, maps, charts, and diagrams help you grasp the meanings of the biblical text. Unlike most others this commentary is by authors from one school - Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge Commentary -- popular in style and scholarly in content -- will deepen your understanding of God's written Word. The Bible Knowledge Commentary will be welcomed by a wide spectrum of Bible students, from the beginner, who will find it easy to understand and easy to use, to the advanced, who will find it consistently thorough and reliable. The readable style, combined with careful scholarship, make this a Bible study aid I and others will add to our "most-used" shelf of books. At last, a commentary we can all believe in. Sunday school teachers and many others at our church will find The Bible Knowledge Commentary extremely helpful. - Publisher.

Alexandria Hodgeman recounts her life of eighty-nine years. Placed as a baby at the door of an orphanage and raised by the Sisters of Mercy, all that she brought with her was a beautiful name and a healthy mentality. Richardson lets a fine, fictional woman's questioning represent everyone with a restless mind and heart: will happiness come from traveling or money? "What did it require to do God's work?" Throughout her life Alexandria experiences dark and sorrowful weeks. She lives through days of love and enlightenment. She realizes at the end that her most satisfying hours have been helping others.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1882.

Students of Scripture love to compare how translators have understood the ancient Hebrew and Greek texts to see if they can discover deeper meanings, or simply ask more pertinent questions. Four of the most popular versions have been placed in parallel columns--KJV, NKJV, NIV (2011 update text), and NLT--so all can take copious notes. Features Four Popular Translations King James Version (KJV)--The dignified, poetic language of this word-for-word translation has made it the favorite of countless readers for over four centuries. New International Version (NIV) (2011 Update Text)--Scholarly accuracy and easy readability combine to help you understand and apply the intended reading of the text. New King James Version (NKJV)--A completely updated translation that's faithful to the accuracy and beauty of the KJV, using contemporary and readable language. New Living Translation (NLT)--A more consistent rendering of ancient terms into their modern English equivalents brings clarity, along with marginal notes that explain word choices. Table of weights and measures 7-point text size 9.75 x 6.75 x 2.50