This book is my exception to the rule book. Generally I will be tying on my sneakers good and secure, and heading for the hills at great speed if anyone threatens (recommends) me with a tale of female bonding, sisterhood and lovey-dovey fuzziness. At first glance I would have interpreted this as a sort of biblical version of the First Wives club or some other story where all the ladies band together in order to achieve some sense of self and self worth and to high five each other and sing songs and shout like Annie Lennox about how sisters are doing it for themselves. Listen.... you can hear the gentle pitter patter of my feet... that's me running.

This book however broke through my carefully constructed (and partly naturally acquired) barrier of cynicism, vitriol, bitterness and scoffing. I even stopped squishing kittens and stealing candy from small children in order to sit down and read it. I've given it five stars and I mean it sincerely.

I don't know if it is the combination of female trials and tribulations, a reminder to treasure our mothers and to remember our past that made me love this, against my will, but something about this book broke the barrier and it has been on my shelf for a good ten years and it has been read at least three times since it arrived.

The story, whilst loosely based on the biblical tale of Dinah and the formation of the tribe of Israel is liberally adapted to shape Diamant's requirements and woman's perspective (if not a feminist one). I'll overlook any potential biblical inaccuracies as I'm not exactly a staunch believer, what with archaeological excavations general disproving a tranche of the contents anyway. Apparently Dinah is mentioned only once in the bible. This bit of information features in a number of reviews and has now become a proto fact in its own right although admittedly I am too lazy to open my much under-thumbed copy of the good book and check to see if this in fact true. Dinah is the only daughter of Leah, a child of Jacob, suckled by her mother aunts, Zilpah, Bilhah and Rachel. The story of her brothers Judah, Reuben, Simon, Levi, Zebulun, Dan, Gad, Asher, Benjaman and Joseph - there may be others but I forget. Her life is one of quiet anonymity amongst her male counterparts until she visits the city of Shechem and becomes the wife of Shalem. A bloody feud ensues between the sons of Jacob and the men of Shechem and Dinah is robbed of happiness, status and eventually the son she carries as she flees to Egypt.

The male characters are under developed, flattened out and distant; this is clearly something that a number of people picked up on, but isn't that how many of the contemporary female characters would have seen their menfolk during the Early Bronze Age in the Near East? Distant authority figures who visited their women's pallets for the procurement of pleasure and children and who visited the kitchens for sustenance. These people were not engaging in erudite conversation or political banter. Women were possessions, men possessors. Because of this it might be assumed that women would have created their own tight knit and highly dependent society.

This is a book about women and probably will mainly appeal to women- I'm not saying men can't or won't read it but rare is the gentleman who wants long descriptions of menstruation or child birth, unless of course he is a gynaecologist. I think generally though this book made me think about my own relationships with other women. Do I take my mother for granted? How well do I know her story? What will my legacy be? And most importantly should I now wonder what my legacy as a woman will be or in the 21st century should I discount this and think only of my legacy and story as a person?

Anytime a work of fiction targets a Judeo-Christian audience, it's hard to rate. Should religious doctrine be taken into account, or should we judge it solely on it's merits as a good story? Because I think some of the more negative reviews of The Red Tent are in regards to its biblical inaccuracies.

Let me start by saying that if you're a moral conservative who believes in the Old Testament, I'd advise caution before reading this book. That's not to say you shouldn't read it; just be aware beforehand that this is a story - nothing more - written by someone who has taken biblical names and accounts and re-formed them to suit her literary needs. Don't look at this as a history lesson from the Bible, Ok? And if you're easily offended, you will be. Facts are changed, beloved Old Testament patriarchs are turned into pagan brutes, and bizarre sexual rites & bestiality are accepted parts of the culture.

If you can accept that this is a story and not religious history, though, then I would recommend you read this book. The narrative is rich and compelling, and the sex, though frequent, is not overly graphic. Dinah's story will draw you into her world, and cause you to experience her wonders, her heartaches, and her joys over the course of a lifetime.

What I thought would be the most repugnant aspect of the story - arranged marriages & women's treatment overall in that society - is actually kind of candy-coated by the author. The women are happy, most of them desiring their husbands, and as a sex they are given far more power and respect than I think is historically accurate - though granted, I'm no historian. No doubt this is due to the author's mother-goddess philosophy, which saturates every aspect of the narrative.

So to sum up: don't assume that if you go to Temple or Church you will love this book. If you are aware of what you're reading,though, then I think you will enjoy this well-crafted tale.

There is only a hint of Diana in the Bible Genesis Book 34. Here the author brings the daughter of Jacob to life in this marvellous historical fiction. Written in the words of Diana, she tells us of her life from beginning to end. The author had so many great ways of weaving the fact and fiction bringing it together for all to enjoy. I found the story of the “Red Tent” and the turmoil of ancient womanhood absolutely fascinating. This would make a great Book Club suggestion, there will be many POV for sure.

An interesting read.

Преди известен брой години много харесах сериала по тази книга. След прочита и, все още го предпочитам - смекчил е острите ръбове на разказа.

Жените от Стария Завет рядко присъстват в литературата, а тези от Новия… Тези от Новия са само изкривена, бегла сянка на послание, насочено предимно към владетелите на онзи стар свят, а те съвсем не са били жени. В Стария Завет има дълбок и примамващ екот от древност, претопена през много епохи, с доста различаващи се възгледи какви трябва да са и са избраният народ и неговият Бог (ту безмилостен, ту милостив, но при всички случаи - всемогъщ). Чисто сюжетно Старият Завет е същински несекващ извор с пищно изобилие на всякакви теми.

Доста художници са рисували как Яков, син на Исаак и внук на Авраам, се е борил с ангел. Е, Анита Диамант е отишла много далеч от буквалното възпроизвеждане на библейския сюжет. Немалко силно религиозни читатели сигурно ще изпаднат в праведно възмущение от нейната версия на събитията. Патриарсите от библейски времена в нейно описание са много, много далеч от понятието “симпатичен”. Не просто защото имат поне по 4 жени, две от които със статут на слугини или направо са робини - нещо нормално за онова време. Не и затова, че имат повече деца, отколкото един трезвомислещ човек може да понесе, поради което - разбираемо - едни са им любимци, а други са им непознати и пасат козите. А заради лицемерието и фанатизма, заради пълната липса на съпричастност към онези, които са им близки и заради липсата на търпение и разбиране към чуждите. Всичката тази жестокост и лицемерие са покрити с маската на божието име, разбира се, като търговска марка за всякакъв вид непогрешимост и пълна, неоспорима власт. Изобличаването на цялото извратено лицемерие на патриархалния строй, оформил Стария завет, е страшно силно послание и е много, много добре поднесено.

Яков от книгата е един отначало симпатичен, а после страшно противен лицемер - но винаги харизматичен. За съжаление - и неразкрит докрай. Преки оценки и лозунги липсват, те са предимно между редовете. Не е така с четирите сестри - жените в живота на Яков. Тяхната червена палатка е единственият им пристан на частица свобода от оковите им на законен инвентар (в обслужване на бащи, съпрузи и синове, обречени до живот да не мръднат нито крачка извън лагера или селото). Интересно, че в книгата жените почитат старите богове на плодородния полумесец и двуречието, което е логично. Това е техният бунт срещу страховития Бог на техните бащи и съпрузи, даващ им неограничена власт над всяка жена, роб и животно. Монотеизмът се е налагал в течение на векове из онези земи, а не наведнъж. В тази палатка започва животът на главната героиня - Дина - единствената дъщеря сред многото синове. Но не там ще приключи. Междувременно женските образи са доста по-плътни. Животът не е толкова тежко и непоносимо нещо, когато никога не си имал свобода, знание, простор, и просто не подозираш, че биха били приложими и за теб. Но дори и такъв, пак си има малките бягства и поетика.

Действието тече през очите на Дина. Погледът е свеж, плавно-поетичен, но излишно подробен на места. Хубавото е, че ароматите на ястията гъделичкат на живо апетита, а пустинния прахоляк на Ханаан се затъква в ноздрите. Но много от детайлите от описанието на моменти задушават. Първата половина на книгата е излишно протяжна, а втората - недостатъчно развита, с куп подскоци през времето. Има само един симпатичен мъжки персонаж, който на всичкото отгоре е египтянин, на фона на цялото старозаветно войнство. Чак пък толкова нито един да не имал капка разбиране към другите или проста човечност? Вярно, че едно е да си пастир с труден живот из пустинна земя и египтянин в плодородната делта на Нил с нейната цивилизация. И все пак нито един? Даже старозаветният Йосиф, синът на Яков, продаден в робство в Египет от собствените си братя се мярка в страшно малка част от действието, и не е особено благонамерен към майките и сестра си.

Хареса ми скептичният, критичен, историчен и човечен поглед към епоха и герои.

⭐️3,5 звезди⭐️

П. П. Реших да потърся друг библейски сюжет, и изтръпнах. Списъците тук предлагат някакви американски автори, а коментарите на религиозните американски читатели ми докараха тръпки по гърба… Не са добре, хич не са добре - силата на молитвата, как Бог ползва всеки за свои цели, брррр, бррр, брр.

This is an epic tale based on the Biblical character Dinah and her life. I found the story very moving, and much credit goes to the author, Anita Diamant. I think she is a great storyteller, a la Barbara Kingsolver and John Irving. Although I was familiar with Dinah and what happened to her from having read her story in the Bible, Ms. Diamant's story is much richer and complex. Though I should add that some religious people, especially those who believe Bible to be literally true, may be offended and I can see them accusing Ms Diamant of distorting the "truth."

Warning: the following reveals some details from the plot.

I was surprised how much I was taken in by Dinah and felt emotionally connected to her, e,g., when she dislikes Rebecca, I did too; when she curses Jacob, I was cursing him with her; when she was moved to tears with grief or happiness, I was on the verge of tears myself. I think the credit goes to Ms. Diamant for developing her characters, especially, but not only, Dinah, in a manner that I totally found believable and it transported me from my world to that of Dinah.

Even more surprising to me was that I found myself being envious of the close, nurturing relationship that the women share in the book, especially when they are in the red tent (birthing or menstruating). It's rather sad that men have nothing equivalent and what passes for "male bonding" is, in my opinion, quite pathetic and immature in comparison (beers and football? Gimme a break!). And may be it's even sadder that, as far as I know, now there is nothing remotely like that for women either.

There is a strong theme of Goddess worshipping and celebration of the female power in the story. The contrast between Jacob's masculine god and Dinah and her mothers' gods/goddesses is quite stark and it left me wondering just how our modern world might have been different had the masculine Judeo-Christian God not supplanted the Goddess pantheism which had existed for thousands of years before.

Bottom line: this a story that very much appealed to me on an emotional and intellectual level. Highly recommended!

LOVED this story! Based on the points of view of the biblical wives and daughter of Jacob; typically unheard of in medieval and ancient history.

The Red Tent is another book that has been sitting in my library for years being published in 1997. Anita Diamant took from the Bible the story of Dinah that is only hinted at in the Book of Genesis whose chapters talk of her father Jacob and his twelve sons, the most celebrated her brother Joseph. In the Prologue to this beautiful book, Dinah asserts that her story was lost because the chain connecting mother to daughter was broken and the word passed to the keeping of men who had no way of knowing. But this is Dinah's story. In her words:

n  

"I am so grateful that you have come. I will pour out everything inside me so you may leave this table satisfied and fortified. Blessings on your eyes. Blessings on your children. Blessings on the ground beneath you. My heart is a ladle of sweet water, brimming over. Selah.

n

And thus begins the story of Dinah, the daughter of Jacob and Leah, narrated in her voice beginning with her mothers' stories, the four wives of Jacob--Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, and Bilhah. Dinah alludes that she promised her mothers' that she would keep their story alive. To these women the moon and the significance of The Red Tent is the profound harmony between the women and with the earth throughout the monthly cycles in early Biblical and Nomadic times. Because Dinah was the only girl, she was permitted from a young age to enter The Red Tent each month with her mothers where she heard the stories of her people and their goddesses. With many of the women midwives, Rachel teaching Dinah from a young age, womanhood in Biblical times including childbirth is featured certainly metaphorically in the significance of The Red Tent.

n  

"Why had no one told me that my body would become a battlefield, a sacrifice, a test? Why did I not know that birth is the pinnacle where women discover the courage to become mothers? But of course, there is no way to tell this or to hear it. Until you are the woman on the bricks, you have no idea how death stands in the corner, ready to play his part. Until you are the woman on the bricks, you do not know the power that rises from other women--even strangers, speaking an unknown tongue, invoking the name of unfamiliar goddesses."

"My son," I answered, dumbfounded, taking him in my arms.

"There should be a song for women to sing at this moment, or a prayer to recite. But perhaps there is none because there are no words strong enough to name that moment. Like every mother since the first mother, I was overcome and bereft, exalted and ravaged. I had crossed over from girlhood. I beheld myself as an infant in my mother's arms, and caught a glimpse of my own death. I wept without knowing whether I rejoiced or mourned. My mothers and their mothers were with me as I held my baby."

n

This remarkable narrative tells the tale of Dinah from birth to her death.

And as a postscript, it is very fitting that I should finish this beautiful book on Mother's Day as this is a book that is written in celebration of all of the mothers and their daughters throughout our history. Selah.

oh the way ancient women suffered. a beautiful biblical retelling focused on the atrocities of men, the old gods, midwifery, and the agony of misogyny.

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant is loosely based on the Genesis story of Dinah, the only daughter of Jacob and Leah. Daimant fleshes out Dinah’s story, telling it in her first-person point of view while deviating from the Biblical version in significant ways. Dinah provides background on her grandfather Laban; the entrance of Jacob into their lives; Jacob’s marriage to her mother; his subsequent marriages to her three aunts; and their plentiful offspring, consisting of Dinah’s brothers and cousins.

The novel starts out strongly. The focus on women and their activities of weaving, cooking, tending the garden, healing ailments, birthing, and nurturing children is evidence of a caring and supportive network of women in an exclusively woman space. The women cling to their worship of the goddess figures of Ancient Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt during the early stages of the transition to monotheism. This is a segregated, patriarchal society in which a woman’s primary function is to birth sons and to assume a subordinate role to the male. But within that framework and within their woman space of the red tent, the women bond, sharing knowledge and body wisdom that is transmitted from mother to daughter, from crone to virgin.

As the only daughter of Jacob and Leah in a bevy of sons, Dinah is singled out for special affection by her mother and aunts/other mothers. They welcome her into the circle of women, initiate her into the inner sanctum of the red tent—the exclusive province of females, embrace her entrance into womanhood with the onset of menarche, train her on midwifery, and teach her the medicinal properties of certain plants and herbs.

All seems to be going in Dinah’s favor until things go horribly wrong. After her husband is slaughtered and Dinah goes to Egypt with her mother-in-law, the novel loses much of its strength. Dinah is forced to relinquish control of her son, befriends a midwife, and becomes known throughout Egypt as a midwife with exceptional powers. She falls happily in love with a carpenter, marries him, and is summoned by the Egyptian vizier to assist in his wife’s delivery of their child. The vizier turns out to be her brother, Joseph. The two then travel together to visit their dying father. Dinah returns to her husband to live the rest of her days in happiness.

The events after Dinah’s arrival in Egypt are rushed and, in contrast with the first part of the novel, time gallops at an unprecedented pace. The women of the red tent are well rounded and portrayed as unique individuals. The men, however, are flat, never fully developed, and most are portrayed stereotypically as bossy patriarchs. Character development suffers, especially in Egypt where we are introduced to characters with barely a superficial nod. Dinah is portrayed as more acted upon than acting. And her convenient love affair with her carpenter husband reeks of a sentimental mushiness reminiscent of the unrealistic “happily ever after” endings of fairy tales.

Perhaps Diamant’s intention was to demonstrate that the lives of women unraveled after the loss of their woman space in the red tent and all it signified. Perhaps the goal was to show how women’s strength diminished when they were deprived of their female network of support. All well and good. However, in the process of demonstrating this, the novel loses much of what made it compelling and focused in the first place—an unfortunate conclusion to what started off with such strength.

Recommended but with reservations.

Devastatingly heartbreaking tale.
Dinah is the young daughter of Jacob. She has many aunties and together with her mother they share stories and legends and teach her the ways of womanhood under the red tent where women go once a month. But when she falls in love with a prince of a different house her father and vengeful selfish brothers will have none of it. Murder and devastation befall Dinah more times then we can count. And yet somehow she makes it through it all. Perhaps a little worse for wear and broken hearted but still in one piece. And most importantly, still remembered.
I LOVED THIS BOOK!!! Such amazing storytelling. This book brought me to tears numerous times, and at other times I wanted to throw the book across the room. The author writes in a way that is easy to follow but still gives you a taste of the old world and the way it was before time began as we know it. Back when women kept ancient secrets about their bodies and their gods.
This book is riveting and I enjoyed it immensely. It speaks of strength and courage beyond reckoning. I would recommend this book to all women everywhere! If you are a woman you need to read this book.

I was at Border's Express one day searching for a little something to curl up in a chair with for an extended period of time. When I was approached by a clerk asking me if I needed help with anything, I KNOW, WEIRD!, right? Customer service? Who knew it even existed anymore? Anywho, I made my desire known to the saleswoman and she points me to this...

I immediately think to myself, "Oh crap! a religious book!" I know I'm taking a chance at offending the church goers among you, but let's not throw stones... Think totally oppressed religious upbringing, among the most offensive group of hypocrites you can imagine and perhaps you can cut me some slack... Okay, so back to the book.

Being the 'uber-polite, can't imagine offending someone to their face' type of woman that I am... Just consider it a given that I would've bought the book no matter how much it cost. Quite simply because I knew this gal would be ringing me up at the register and I just couldn't allow her to think I didn't trust her judgment, especially after asking for her advice!

So I schlepped home with my 'religious' book... And you know what? I LOVED it! What an amazing story of the courage, determination and resiliency of women. Hey, just try to imagine what it would be like to be thrown into a cramped tent, with a plethora of other menstruating women, in a time when tampons had yet to be invented. The hormones alone in that one tent, make it completely understandable as to why the men steered clear and thought it best to risk their lives in the dessert in search of food, even if the 'food' ate them first!

Seriously though, this book will make you proud to be a woman. I recommend reading it while you have your period... It'll make you cry.

There are so many other books I've read that I'd like to mention, but this post is already long and I haven't yet gotten to the good part...