The Red Tent

Being Russian Orthodox (where, at least in our little corner of the world, Bible reading is for the priests and not only not encouraged, but is not a thing at all for the laypeople), I can hardly comment on the differences between this retelling and the original text. What I can say is that this book is an insight, however fictional, into the lives of women at a time when they were but footnotes in the history of men, if mentioned at all. I would recommend The Red Tent to anyone who wants more than read a footnote, or anyone, who, like me, had trouble even starting reading the Bible, specifically for the reason that the stories told are missing half the people. Ignore the controversy and just read it. This book is worth judging for yourself. To me, it was worth reading just for a glimpse of time, even if only imagined, when at least someone didn't see being a woman (childbirth, menstruation, etc.) as being cursed by uncleanliness. There are countless women and girls even today, all over the world, whose futures are maimed and ruined just for this reason. There are people out there who are working hard to change this attitude, and a book like this, a new perspective, can help more than an argument.

This is not a good book for someone who is trying to learn the story of Jacob. I read half and had to stop. At one point in the story, it talks about Jacob telling the story of Abram. However, the author writes that Sarai was a priestess, and that a goddess came upon her and made her with child. This is not at all what the Bible teaches. There are many things in the Bible that you can let your mind wonder about like how the conversation went between Jonathan and David when Saul tries to kill David and how the people of Egypt were probably screaming and crying when God was sending plagues. However, the Bible is very clear on what happened to Abram and Sarai, and it had absolutely nothing to do with a goddess. Also, the Bible clearly states that Dinah was raped not in love. I would just suggest that you be careful when reading this and understand that the Bible does not agree with many of the things written in this book!

First a critique of the review process. I hate that Amazon insists that I choose one of their descriptive words to "describe the plot of this book." They gave me the choices of "predictable," "some twists," or "full of surprises," none of which are an apt summary of The Red Tent.Many thoughtful reviews have already been posted. I will affirm that it was wonderful to read this story, told from the point of view of the women. In those times, women were treated as chattel and the only power they had was that of producing sons. They claimed that power, and it was fascinating. I also liked the portrayal of the community of women and what they brought to the family economy, I hope that part is "true."I love the historical fiction quality of the book. The alternative perspectives from Biblical literalism is a relief. The alternate perspective on Dinah's "rape" is worthy of contemplation. In today's world, there are "honor killings" that sometimes occur when women have sex outside of marriage, whether it's consensual or rape. We have a modern context for seeing women who don't have self determination, whose marriages are arranged, or consent still only comes with a price. It's not that hard to see the possibility of an alternate reality for Dinah. It certainly makes for a great story. I am fascinated by the tensions and textures created by the encounters with people of differing beliefs, the women practicing the old ways, those who don't, the paganism, those following the God of Abraham, and then the Egyptians. It is interesting to follow how those beliefs color their lives and how they interact with people of differing beliefs. One can also experience that in the reviews here on Amazon!I do not find the story anti-male or anti-Bible. When one recalls that men had all the power, then tragic use of power is on the men. But other aspects of power appear in the encounters between the shepherd and the king, and Dinah amongst the Egyptians, etc. The tensions of religion and culture and social position within the tribe and beyond are part of the story.I've tried to write without spoilers. It's a great book. One can be a person of faith without being insulted by a single syllable in this book. Criticisms from 2000 are interesting, but I think that time is on the side of deep appreciation for The Red Tent.

This is the second d time I've read this book. Know, I don't reread books. I have recommended this book since the first time I read it, back in my 20's, but now that I'm older, I felt it deserved a second review. I fell in love all over again, but for different reasons. The first time I was in awe that's actually liked it. I loved the celebration ration of a strong female character and heroine. Now, I still love it for the same reasons but in a different way. I love her quiet strength. Her resolve. Her confidence. Her self-awareness. It was a book anew to me. And a celebration of womanhood all over in a more mature way. Still in love and would recommend all over again!!!

I guess I misunderstood what this book was about. I knew it a work of fiction, but I felt like it would be more Christian based. I was mistaken. Only one chapter in and I had to put it down.

This moving and compelling story brings the lives glimpsed through the verses of the Old Testament into sharp, colourful and sometimes shocking focus. It knocks the sugar coating off the West end Jospeh by showing the selling of their brother into slavery as the very least of the crimes of Jacob and his 11 other sons and yet, because the book is told through the eyes of the women who, despite the harshness and cruelty of their ancient land, find comfort, strength and joy in friendship, rituals and celebrations and in the simple acts of making and caring for their families, there is always hope and a direct connection with the modern reader. I learned a lot from this book about the realities of the world of the Old Testament by the skilful way that the author shifts the focus from the events we already know about and focuses instead on what is going on just off to the side. In a world where an eye for an eye was an accepted rule of life, Dinah shows us there is another way and that it is possible to find peace and happiness through love. I could not put the book down and every character comes to life as a unique and vivid individual. I could go back and read it from the beginning again!

I was recommended this as a holiday read by a friend. A most enjoyable and moving tale that I simply could not put down. I never read a book twice, but I can honestly say that I will not be passing this one on to fellow readers as I feel so attached to it. When I finished the final chapter I felt the need to reread the prologue and only then could I put it down. I had other books with me on holiday but could not even pick them up after this one. It now sits on my bedside table like a 'bible'. I will pass this on to my daughter when she is a little older as I feel every woman should read it. Thank you Aniita Diamant.

This one was a real slow burner. I only read it because it was the first read of our new book club. It wasn't something I would generally every want to pick up, and would never have chosen it. I'm so glad I did, as I really have been enlightened.At first I was thoroughly confused and couldn't pronounce many of the names. (I still couldn't by the end, but it didn't matter.)I had no idea who was who and so many characters came at me. I didn't understand what was going on at all, because I hadn't even read the description of the book, I came in blind and didn't even know who the main character was.It was Dinah, and the story told of her mothers, who were sisters, her children and her growing up. There was a great wealth of stories and Diamant's knowledge and imagination really shown through as I was taken back in time through sight and sound and yes, even smell.Dinah, the child relating to her mothers, who each month enter the red tent and the midwifery and relationships that ensued. Dinah, the adult who became a midwife herself, and finally Dinah in her last years.Overall a fascinating read, which I am so glad that I persevered with when all I wanted to do was give up.

I really enjoyed this book. It is written in a very easy style that makes it a good read. It is an unusual story because it is set in Old Testament days. Almost at the beginning. It is written in the first person. She is Dinah, the only girl child born to Jacob and Leah. It takes the little that is written about Dinah in the Bible and tells her story and how society was in those times. I found it a lovely story, and was transported way back in time to learn about another culture

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant is a novel which caught my eye in a bookshop many moons ago, listed in the back of my mind as a 'To Read' and never actually came to read it until roughly 12 years later, as a result of it slipping in and out of recall.The novel is the story of Dinah, the only daughter born to the famous Jacob of many sons of the Bible (and the musical), his four wives, all apparently siblings and Dinah's entire life story from when her father met her mothers to her eventual death.Though Dinah is a Biblical character, not much was known about her, apart from one main biblical story around which Diamant weaves the most dramatic section of narrative, so in general Diamant was free to build the picture of Dinah she chose.It is beautifully done. In many ways The Red Tent is a very female very feminist novel, The Red Tent itself being the place the women retreated to from the general family camp whilst they bled at the new moon. There is a huge focus on sexual awakening, menstruation, womanhood and the entry into womanhood, and fertility in general. The story follows the Biblical emphasis on the woman providing her husbands legacy, providing him with sons, the joy of being able to do this and the heartbreak of being unable.The book also looks at the secrets of women, their private conversations, feelings, superstitions and rituals, kept sacred from the men in the privacy of the Red Tent, and childbirth itself too, a private process of pain, fear and delight dealt with only by women.In many ways the barriers between men and women's lives are now broken down, and so it is interesting to see this separation of the two, the clear lines between the female world and the male, down to the stories the two genders pass on, the heritage they feel is worth telling. It is another time and in many ways another world.The prose is very beautiful and I connected with it straight away and had read the book in hours, it was poetic and had a hypnotic quality, you really felt like you could picture the characters and their surroundings, the atmosphere was great.Dinah's story is in many ways sad, reflecting the difficult lot of women at the time, the loss of which many, though of course not all, modern women can be thankful for, but it is also somehow sad to see that this private culture and camaraderie between women, also broken with the passage of time.I really enjoyed this book, and read it in one day within a seven hour period. When a book grabs you like this, and doesn't let go, you know it's quite special and this book is surely, particularly for women worth the read 9/10

In the Old Testament, Dinah's life is only hinted at in a brief detour within the familiar chapters of the Book of Genesis which deals with her father, Jacob, son of Issac, grandson of Abraham and brother of Esau. In The Red Tent, Anita Diamant has taken these scant details of Dinah's life and imagined them into an amazing narrative of what might have happened.The author never suggests this is the "true" story. It is a novel, even though it may be based in fact. However, the story seems to be thoroughly researched, and I was as fascinated by her descriptions of life in Biblical times as by the lives of the characters.The Red Tent explores the lives of the wives and daughter of Jacob, affording us a glimpse into the world of women at that time. Told through the eyes of Dinah, Jacob's only daughter to survive into adulthood, the author has created a wonderful tale of an otherwise minor character.From the start, we are immediately drawn into the intimate details of the lives of Dinah and her four "mothers", as Jacob marries Dinah's mother, Leah, then her sister, Rachel, then takes as concubines the other two sisters: Zilpah, and Bilhah. As the only daughter, Dinah's "mothers" all love and spoil her, bestowing on Dinah gifts that sustain her through childhood, a calling to midwifery, and a new home in a foreign land. In their relationship with Jacob, and with each other, these women struggle through a range of emotions: jealously, love, pride and loyalty.We hear about the births of the children resulting from these relationships, as well as Dinah's childhood of learning from her "mothers" in the red tent, where the women were isolated during their cycles. Within the confines of the red tent, the women bonded in such a way as to give them a subtle power over men, who were fearful of their rituals and knowledge of childbearing. It gave them a certain amount of leverage in a very much male-dominated society.Later in the story, Dinah's father, Jacob, leaves his father-in-law's lands, along with his extensive family and flock of sheep and, eventually, certain events tear these women's lives apart, as Dinah falls in love and ends up in Egypt.You do not have to be familiar with the Bible to enjoy this novel as The Red Tent is not, in essence, a religious book, but it does discuss the God of Jacob's father, as well as exploring the many gods worshipped by other cultures of the time.This story, about the strength of women, was one of the best I have read in a long time: powerful, beautifully written and imaginatively conceived. I was sorry to reach the last page. Dinah's tale reaches out from a remarkable period in early history, creating for us an intimate connection with our past, and I cannot recommend this book more highly.

I'm about two thirds of the way through this book and am loving it! It tells the story of Jacob and his wives from the perspective of Dinah, his only daughter amongst a tribe of sons. I love the way that the truth of the Bible is interwoven with fiction that draws you in and helps you connect with the characters. It makes me want to read the Biblical account of this family again as it will help me to see it through new eyes and spur me on to maybe do some background study of my own into the fascinating culture of this era.

This is not my normal genre of book but it was recommended by a friend so I gave it a go. I absolutely loved it. It is so well written and so well thought out. For those who had a bible upbringing (by no means a necessity to enjoy the book) it is almost familiar. The female characters are well and warmly written and developed. The men are a backstop. Very refreshing.

At some points this story really dragged. I found it became less interesting after the departure of some of the strongest characters. However, I felt compelled to discover ever part of Dinah's story right up until the very end.Conceptually, it is a very interesting account of what a woman's interpretation of Abrahamic life could of been and it is for that reason, that I would recommend (at least the first two parts of) this book to everyone.

I was looking for a good book to read and a friend of mine recommended me the red tent, describing it as a very special book.I just finished it and I think it’s a very special book indeed, about the story of Dinah, daughter of Jacob the prophet. It really transport you to a biblical time where everything was so different, their ways, rituals, their gods, the way they saw the world and also about sisterhood and womanhood.

Arrived on time . A very very beautiful book I remember reading it when I was younger and remember loving it came across my old book but was unreadable so thought I would re buy it . A truly remarkable book highly recommend it to any women! A great story of inner strength and forgiving your self and others, a very coming of age sort of book but I feel as though the message of the book has changed (for me that is) since I first read it as a younge teenager.

The novel is set in the days of Jacob and his tribe and I very much enjoyed the detail about the life style and culture of Canaan/Egypt of that time, told from the women's perspective. The Bible story is brief but Anita Diamant has obviously researched the subject in depth and the resulting narrative is convincing and interesting. The characters are diverse and engaging. I'm not a feminist or religious but my interest was maintained from start to finish.

A truly wonderful book. It is feminist and no longer is the female menstrual cycle impure and contaminating; instead it is celebrated by these shepherds' wives and turned into a beautiful ritual under the fabric of the red tent. Unfortunately, the sisterhood that is achieved each month does not help them in their day to day lives in a patriarchal society that can gamble them away. Some women are abused in horrible ways, some are cruel and arrogant and some are loving and compassionate. A compelling and brave book.

Couldn't finish it because I found it too disturbing although some lovely parts too.

I watched a four part serial on TV and so enjoyed it I ordered the book. The story flows easily and is based on a Bible story. Someone wrote that it is what the Bible would read like if written by a woman. As I read I can see the characters. A fascinating story and well worth a read.