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Sins of the 7th Sister
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 in Sins 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 Sister is brilliantly conceived and masterfully written, as alive with flamboyant characters and wildly uncontained emotions as any book to come out of the South.
From the Hardcover edition.
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 Sister is brilliantly conceived and masterfully written, as alive with flamboyant characters and wildly uncontained emotions as any book to come out of the South.
From the Hardcover edition.
416 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
March 14, 2008
I loved this book. Could not put it down. I desperatly wanted to share it with everyone I knew so I could have hours and hours of discussion. But I couldn't think of anyone who would get past the first chapter.
Real life is messy and shocking. This book holds nothing back and I am so grateful. I wish I could quanitify this story and write the words that would make everyone read this, but I honestly don't think everyone should. I think perhaps we're too conservative a species to comfortably make allowances for things that are different. But different can be heroic.
Real life is messy and shocking. This book holds nothing back and I am so grateful. I wish I could quanitify this story and write the words that would make everyone read this, but I honestly don't think everyone should. I think perhaps we're too conservative a species to comfortably make allowances for things that are different. But different can be heroic.
December 16, 2009
I just had to give this five stars because it was one of the all-time favorites. I am having a hard time putting it all to words, but have been emailing a close friend from high school who recommended it. Her mother recently died and she found it on the nightstand next to her mother's bed and took it home with her, only to become so engrossed that she had to let me know about it. We enjoy many of the same books, so I got it through my library and I was in a tailspin, resenting my job, wishing the dog could take herself for a walk and not answering my phone. I would take breaks and look up the veracity of the extraordinary tales that were spun by Huston Curtiss, who published this book many years after its characters were long-gone from this earth and could testify to its truth. Or not. Can't find a thing on Billy-Pearl Curtiss or any of the characters and yet they bloom with life and not a one is ordinary. The bottom-line is that it simply doesn't matter; it is an engrossing read, very well-written, and funny. I highly recommend it when you have a slice of life that can be devoted to reading because I doubt you will want to do otherwise once you begin.
I do believe that the advertising should have been different and that Mr. Curtiss hadn't wound it all up so quickly, but it still deserves all of the stars I gave it.
I read somewhere that Stanley actually became a country-western singer. Does that mean he was a castrato country-western singer? Or was he an Appalachian folk-singer? It is much easier to imagine him as a diva.
I do believe that the advertising should have been different and that Mr. Curtiss hadn't wound it all up so quickly, but it still deserves all of the stars I gave it.
I read somewhere that Stanley actually became a country-western singer. Does that mean he was a castrato country-western singer? Or was he an Appalachian folk-singer? It is much easier to imagine him as a diva.
January 6, 2020
Whew! What a fun fictional ride through the history of my current town! There was so much truth in the history that I found myself Googling as I read to find out what was real and what was fiction! The book reads easily and quickly, as it is supposedly from a journal of a young adolescent boy from Elkins, WV. They change the names of the senators in the area and even add some racy details about their family lives. It was very fun to read about the Queen's Coronation from Forest Festival. You can tell they are using details from many of the coronations to write about the one major event written of.
Now, the part of this book that amazes me and makes me need more information: the author's name. This is quite obviously a pseudonym and I can't find anything else out about the author. It was written in 2003, which was the year I graduated from the College written about. It seems that many of the characters and details written about in the 1900's were things that I recall actually happening during my time here. I want to find out if one of my classmates or former teachers has written this work! So, if you're reading this, Huston C. Curtiss, please message me...I would love to find out more about what made you write this book! Kudos on the fun adventure!!!
Now, the part of this book that amazes me and makes me need more information: the author's name. This is quite obviously a pseudonym and I can't find anything else out about the author. It was written in 2003, which was the year I graduated from the College written about. It seems that many of the characters and details written about in the 1900's were things that I recall actually happening during my time here. I want to find out if one of my classmates or former teachers has written this work! So, if you're reading this, Huston C. Curtiss, please message me...I would love to find out more about what made you write this book! Kudos on the fun adventure!!!
March 8, 2010
I loved this book so much when I read it a few years ago--I promptly lent it to a friend because I knew she would like it. I don't think she's read it yet, so I must get it back to re-read it. Fabulous, fabulous book. Not for the faint-of-heart, mind you. Some of the ideas may challenge the more tightly-wound reader. But I found the characters endearing, or hateful, or sympathetic, but always engendering a response; the adventures thrilling; the relationships memorable; the story magnificent.
February 25, 2009
This book is absolutely captivating. I could not put it down. I love books of this nature and find it so hard to find more like it! Hats off to Huston Curtiss! With true life stories this interesting, who needs fiction?
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February 8, 2009Bills itself as “A novel based on a true story of the Gothic South”. The body count gets unexpectedly high.
Read
January 13, 2011Was going to close it up, shelf it but got caught up and read every last word.
July 4, 2018
Curtiss describes growing up on his family's farm and all that entailed in the South when Jim Crow ruled. It amazes me to see how some people stand up the the status quo and can change things and how that person often holds sway over a lot of people. I love when some folks in the story get whats coming to them. It tackles many serious issues and is for a mature reader.
December 13, 2017
Loved this book. I grew up in the town right next to this do I was interested just because of that, but the book offered so much more. It’s hard to believe it’s true , but truth is stranger than fiction.
November 15, 2019
Surprisingly good read.
April 2, 2021
Historical Fiction. Houston’s childhood. His mother is a 7th sister and a killer albeit a cultured one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2022
One of the MOST enjoyable reads of 2022! Highly recommend to all southerners!!
November 1, 2023
Very interesting read. Could not put it down. I plan to do some research to see if I can find out how much of this story is true.
January 19, 2016
Summarized by the author as a novel based on the true story of his life, this book follows Huston Curtiss, who is a seven year old living in Elkins, West Virginia in 1929. His father is a philandering drunk and his mother is the beautiful, opinionated seventh daughter of eleven total girls. Frustrated by the racial and cultural limitations of her time, Hughie's mother Billy-Pearl sets to right what wrongs she can and care for those that society has abandoned including a black family persecuted by the Klan, an elderly schoolteacher facing the poorhouse, and a teenager named Stanley who is facing eviction from the orphanage. In particular, Hughie forms a bond with Stanley, who will eventually go on to become a glamorous singer known as Stella.
Many things about this novel seemed far fetched. I lost track of the number of people who die in its pages, many through violent means. It seemed as if a character died every few pages. I found it hard to believe that Billy-Pearl would be able to get away with participating in so many murders, even if she was morally justified in killing Klan members. The body count was particularly shocking considering the fact that the narrator was a young child. Little concern seems to be given to the fact that Hughie frequently witnesses murders and gruesome dead bodies. When his mother expresses concern on the first killing Hughie witnesses, their house servant dismisses her worry, saying, "This ain't no ordinary seven-year-old child" (61). This failed to seem like sufficient justification for me.
In addition, many of the details seemed difficult to believe. Many of the characters in this book are eccentric, participating in incestuous relationships, political intrigue, and murderous schemes. In many ways, aspects of the book felt fantastical. For instance, three Dutch ladies come to live with Billy-Pearl and Hughie and miraculously clothe and feed all of its many inhabitants. They craft a beautiful evening gown for Billy-Pearl, down to dying her shoes to match. Rather than wicked stepsisters, Billy-Pearl declares them the "sweetest stepsisters a girl ever had" (224). Similarly, Stanley undergoes a magical, Cinderella-like transformation, "Here was a boy who last year was living in a miserable orphanage where they made him fire the furnace instead of going to school and then threatened to throw him out on the street. And now here he was, a new name, a new life, and off to spend a week in a sixty-room mansion with the richest girl in the world" (238).
In the note that prefaces the novel, as well as the novel's summary, special emphasis is given to the relationship between Stanley and Hughie. While Hughie does claim to be attached to Stanley, in many ways he seems to be a very marginal character throughout the bulk of the book. Likewise, although this novel is named for Hughie's mother, who does feature prominently throughout the book, this is Hughie's story at heart and not that of either Billy-Pearl or Stanley. Hughie observes Billy-Pearl and Stanley, but seems emotionally disconnected from them when it comes to their own feelings or desires.
Although I admired Billy-Pearl's outspoken declaration of her beliefs and her efforts to help the poor, minorities, and other victimized individuals, I didn't particularly care for Hughie as a narrator or the many violent ends within this book.
Many things about this novel seemed far fetched. I lost track of the number of people who die in its pages, many through violent means. It seemed as if a character died every few pages. I found it hard to believe that Billy-Pearl would be able to get away with participating in so many murders, even if she was morally justified in killing Klan members. The body count was particularly shocking considering the fact that the narrator was a young child. Little concern seems to be given to the fact that Hughie frequently witnesses murders and gruesome dead bodies. When his mother expresses concern on the first killing Hughie witnesses, their house servant dismisses her worry, saying, "This ain't no ordinary seven-year-old child" (61). This failed to seem like sufficient justification for me.
In addition, many of the details seemed difficult to believe. Many of the characters in this book are eccentric, participating in incestuous relationships, political intrigue, and murderous schemes. In many ways, aspects of the book felt fantastical. For instance, three Dutch ladies come to live with Billy-Pearl and Hughie and miraculously clothe and feed all of its many inhabitants. They craft a beautiful evening gown for Billy-Pearl, down to dying her shoes to match. Rather than wicked stepsisters, Billy-Pearl declares them the "sweetest stepsisters a girl ever had" (224). Similarly, Stanley undergoes a magical, Cinderella-like transformation, "Here was a boy who last year was living in a miserable orphanage where they made him fire the furnace instead of going to school and then threatened to throw him out on the street. And now here he was, a new name, a new life, and off to spend a week in a sixty-room mansion with the richest girl in the world" (238).
In the note that prefaces the novel, as well as the novel's summary, special emphasis is given to the relationship between Stanley and Hughie. While Hughie does claim to be attached to Stanley, in many ways he seems to be a very marginal character throughout the bulk of the book. Likewise, although this novel is named for Hughie's mother, who does feature prominently throughout the book, this is Hughie's story at heart and not that of either Billy-Pearl or Stanley. Hughie observes Billy-Pearl and Stanley, but seems emotionally disconnected from them when it comes to their own feelings or desires.
Although I admired Billy-Pearl's outspoken declaration of her beliefs and her efforts to help the poor, minorities, and other victimized individuals, I didn't particularly care for Hughie as a narrator or the many violent ends within this book.
September 14, 2016
Sins of the 7th Sister is billed as the true story of Huston Curtiss' life growing up in Elkins, West Virginia while at the same time being labeled a novel. I have to believe it is more novel because it asks me to believe a little bit too much for it to be a memoir. At it's center is Curtiss' mother, Billy-Pearl, the seventh of ten Fancler daughters and a progressive liberal. She marries Huston Curtiss and takes over his family farm and her in-laws leave her at the helm even after their son abandons the family. And then she proceeds to bring in many members of the community who need help (including a castrated boy who later becomes a famous female opera singer, a black family, an abused family, and a retired teacher) and the book quickly turns into a Tarantino movie. She has to take on the Klan and being one of the best shots in the county, she doesn't have much trouble bringing them down. Though the bloodshed was not described at the level it would be demonstrated in a Tarantino film, it was disconcerting to suddenly be in the midst of her systematic take down and then to believe there were zero repercussions. I loved many of the characters in this book because not only were the people brought in by Billy-Pearl interesting, but the both lines of Curtiss' family were also filled with intriguing characters. Between the endearing characters and the sense of humor threaded throughout, I found myself overall enjoying this book. But, there were also several things that troubled me because they were handled relatively flippantly such as molestation, murder, and gang rape. ***SPOILERS AHEAD***These are some very heavy subjects and the book just kind of presents them quickly and like "and then he sucked my dick", "and then she shot him", or "and then they gang raped her and later they tarred and feathered her". And, I found myself thinking, "whoa, that just happened, is that really all we're going to say about it". And those are the things that put this book firmly in the "this is a novel category" even though they try to tell me it's true.
January 31, 2008
"A novel based on a true story of the Gothic South". Being from West Virginia (where the book takes place), I figured I had to read this book. Citing from the publisher...'nestled in a web of murder, rape, abuse and adultery is the often happy and always loving home of Huston ("Hughie") Curtiss. His memoir, which roots itself in the events of 1929, when he's only seven years old, reveals a slice of the eccentric life of one white West Virginian family. Hughie's mother, the powerful, progressive and indefatigable Billy-Pearl, heads the family and has a knack for attracting the desperate and destitute. She adopts a motley crew, including a castrated orphan who becomes a successful opera singer, a black family running from the KKK and a homeless schoolteacher. The seventh of 11 daughters, Billy tries her best-with the help of her ever-expanding extended family-to eradicate prejudice, abuse and poverty. Together the extended family struggles through the '29 stock market collapse and the dangerous racism plaguing the South, resorting to measures as drastic as murder to keep themselves safe.'
Despite what appears to be raging debates on whether there is any truth to the novel, I was captivated by the story. Melodramatic at times (well, many times), but it was refreshing to read about an affluent family in the south during the depression and during KKK times trying their best to help people in need. It was also fascinating to read about the day to day life back then...making lye soap out of embers from the apple butter session for example. Certainly entertaining, definitely compelling, and an easy read.
Despite what appears to be raging debates on whether there is any truth to the novel, I was captivated by the story. Melodramatic at times (well, many times), but it was refreshing to read about an affluent family in the south during the depression and during KKK times trying their best to help people in need. It was also fascinating to read about the day to day life back then...making lye soap out of embers from the apple butter session for example. Certainly entertaining, definitely compelling, and an easy read.
April 20, 2020
This book has been sitting on my wish list for well over a year. The whole 'Story of the Gothic South' thing was holding me back. I was expecting something dark and disturbing. Instead, I got what is now one of my all-time favorite books.
Huston Curtiss was 7 years old in 1929, living on a farm in West Virginia with his beautiful do-gooder mother, and about 15 other people that his mother took in to live with them in their huge home. What I loved about this book was that it has it all. Murder, suicide, love, heartbreak, trans-gender, racial tensions, mistresses, and good 'ol southern charm.
The fact that this is a true story is amazing to me. This is Mr. Curtiss's story of his childhood...and you couldn't make this stuff up. What these people had to deal with in those days...no thanks. While most of the story takes place in 1929, he does take you further into the future, up to 1967, and explains what became of everyone, which I appreciated.
In the end, I can't recommend this book enough. It was funny, sad, tragic, heroic...everything you could possibly get out of a book, you get out of this one. I'm so glad I finally got this off my wish list and read it...although I am dying to know what Stanley/Stella's real name is!
Huston Curtiss was 7 years old in 1929, living on a farm in West Virginia with his beautiful do-gooder mother, and about 15 other people that his mother took in to live with them in their huge home. What I loved about this book was that it has it all. Murder, suicide, love, heartbreak, trans-gender, racial tensions, mistresses, and good 'ol southern charm.
The fact that this is a true story is amazing to me. This is Mr. Curtiss's story of his childhood...and you couldn't make this stuff up. What these people had to deal with in those days...no thanks. While most of the story takes place in 1929, he does take you further into the future, up to 1967, and explains what became of everyone, which I appreciated.
In the end, I can't recommend this book enough. It was funny, sad, tragic, heroic...everything you could possibly get out of a book, you get out of this one. I'm so glad I finally got this off my wish list and read it...although I am dying to know what Stanley/Stella's real name is!
September 12, 2016
a very strange story of the "gothic south" in 1929. The beginning leads you to believe it will be about Stanley and Hughie, but it really covers Hughie's mother (the 7th sister) and all her "good deeds" which include taking in people who need help: Stanley, who killed his father after his father killed his mother (Stanley was castrated and sent to an orphanage, but Hughie's mom rescued him); a black family whose home is burned by the KKK; a school teacher who no longer had a school came to the house and taught the black children who weren't allowed to go to school and some other neighbors; other young men down on their luck who needed work etc. Hughie's mom also killed many (dozens?) "bad people" as she felt necessary, mostly KKK members, while the sheriff (her lover) looked the other way.
A lot of detail from the memory of a 7 year old, supposedly comes from Hughie's diary that he kept at the time.
Was not a quick read, did not draw me into the story. A lot of characters to sort out.
A lot of detail from the memory of a 7 year old, supposedly comes from Hughie's diary that he kept at the time.
Was not a quick read, did not draw me into the story. A lot of characters to sort out.
November 29, 2010
The gossipy nature of this story made it easy to read and it went down quickly over a holiday weekend. The rituals and chores of country life on a farm and the descriptions of the people involved in the story carried me away to another time. The hardships of the early 1920-30's are really interesting in the rear-view. Each person became real to me and I laughed out loud at some of the caricatures.
What really touched me was that the mother in the story helped so many people, but for some reason never reached out to her own son. Maybe she thought he didn't need love since he had money? It's an undercurrent and you know it will be a big deal at some point. The subtle delivery of the final stab is worth the wait, even though the middle gets weighed down a bit with details.
I read this like a great old 'film noir' - with all the late Barrymore's playing central roles - meets a rerun of "Dallas".
What really touched me was that the mother in the story helped so many people, but for some reason never reached out to her own son. Maybe she thought he didn't need love since he had money? It's an undercurrent and you know it will be a big deal at some point. The subtle delivery of the final stab is worth the wait, even though the middle gets weighed down a bit with details.
I read this like a great old 'film noir' - with all the late Barrymore's playing central roles - meets a rerun of "Dallas".
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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July 31, 2011Interesting, supposed true story of the life of the author as a boy during the late 20's and early 30's. Talk about a dysfunctional family, Curtiss maternal and paternal sides are characters from a soap opera. "Hughie's" mother, in particular, takes in all the strays, fights the Klan, educates the black children, raises champion horses, sleeps with the sheriff, and more. Hughie believes she loves everyone but him and is honest about his unkind feelings as a child!
February 19, 2013
fascinating story of the Curtiss family who came from small town Virginia....written from the perspective of the youngest family member, Huston, who maintained journals as a child. this book details the years 1929 and 1930 and the absolute craziness in the family...everything and anything happened...murder, adultery, even incest...you have to keep an open mind and look past the sins of the family to see the enduring love and forgiveness.
February 4, 2014
Truth is stranger than fiction and this novel has a lot of strange truths to it. I found this at Goodwill, and it wasn't shelved with the books, placed casually in a sock bin and the cover and title intrigued me to pick it up and then "A novel based on a true story of the Gothic South" and then to read the insert it takes place in Elkins, WV - quite a ways south from Wheeling, WV - where I am from - it was a must read!
It is something else and a lot of laughs and bigger than life characters.
It is something else and a lot of laughs and bigger than life characters.
July 29, 2015
This is certainly on my list of most entertaining reads. This saga of southern family values (as twisted as they can be) mixed with history, ambition and scandal was a really fun read. Follow the life of Hughie, the son of one of seven mysterious and complex sisters in the old south. Find your newest She-hero, and find a few more with Amelda, Opal, Billy-Pearl and Tuba. The men? At the complete mercy of these firebrands, who love as deeply as the loath. Poor Hughie.
April 10, 2016
First of all .....Thank you Diane for sending me this book ! So sweet and kind of you , so entertaining for me ! I plan to do the same and pass it on to my son to read if you are okay with that . He can't wait to get his hands on it !
Obviously not a quick read , but well worth savoring . Loved the writing style , the characters and the spot on telling of the events and time period . This one will make you laugh at times and gasp at others . Highly recommend !
June 12, 2008
Great author and very interesting historical novel especially living near the area where it was written about. Written from the POV of a young boy and hilarious at some points! Facets of the book that talk about life on a working farm during the depression are amazing. Easy to believe that his stories are not so fictional.
January 16, 2010
This book is insane...and FANTASTIC. Huston Curtiss has an amazing ability to capture a tone that matches the narrator (and his age). His characters are very alive, so much so that you want to meet them. The tagline is "A novel based on a true story of the Gothic South". If you read this book, don't debate whether or not it is a true story. It doesn't matter - just enjoy the book.
August 16, 2012
A great book! I laughed out loud several times at the hysterical view from a 9 year old boys rather twisted upbringing. The main characters mother is an amazing woman who will inspire both altruism and insanity. Historically rich, set in the 1920's in West Virginia, and highly amusing and entertaining.
August 6, 2013
This "novel based on a true story" takes place in West Virginia in 1929 when the author was 7 and living with his beautiful, wealthy and progressive mother, the 7th sister of 11, and a large cast of eccentric family members. This book has it all: murder, the KKK, gender issues, love, tragedy, heroism and humor. A delightful page-turner.
March 17, 2013
Almost put it down after first few pages. But powered through my discomfort and ended up thoroughly enjoying this tall tale. A bit crude at times, hence the four instead of five stars, but the story pulled me in.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews