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The Red Tent
by Anita Diamant
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Read in March, 2008
In the Bible, the character Dinah appears as a brief detour in the story of her father Jacob and his sons. In The Red Tent, Dinah is the narrator, telling the story behind the myth, what actually happened to her mothers and to herself (as imagined by Diamant) both before and after her marriage and the murder of her husband and his family. The novel intends to tell the story of the women in the Bible, butwhile Diamant conceives Dinah's story in realistic detailDinah has no agen...more
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bookshelves:
judaism,
literature
recommends it for:
People who think the "Gospel of Thomas" is actually revolutionary
The Red Tent is (very) loosely based on the story of Dinah in Genesis, and it is a book that is very easy to read. Dinah's tale is one that deserves fleshing out; in the Bible it is an interesting though undeveloped and uncertain chronicle. The author does a fairly decent job of developing her female characters, her male characters are largely flat, stereotypical, and unnecessarily negative. In the Bible, the characters of Jacob and Joseph are more well-rounded; they are humans with both fault...more
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9 comments
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Read in December, 2006
My mom got me this book for Christmas mainly because she wanted to read it. I read the summary on the back and I was intrigued, but wasn't intending to pick it up right away until my mom demanded that I read it as soon as possible so she could read it. So I did. I read it in a day.
I'm a fast reader no matter what, but give me a good book, I'll finish it faster than usual. This book was good. Excellent. I was drawn in with the first word. There were stories within stories and I was able to fo...more
I'm a fast reader no matter what, but give me a good book, I'll finish it faster than usual. This book was good. Excellent. I was drawn in with the first word. There were stories within stories and I was able to fo...more
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Read in December, 2007
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 offende...more
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The Red Tent is an interesting novel based on the story of Jacob, as told through the eyes of Dinah, his only daughter. Dinah is mentioned in the bible in a single sentence regarding the rape of Dinah. Beyond this, we know nothing about her. Diamant's novel revolves around this passage and about the ensuing destruction of Shechem. The Red Tent is not a simple retelling of the story of Jacob - Diamant creates realistic characters and gives context to the characterizations of Laban, Jacob, Es...more
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Read in July, 2001
recommends it for:
no one (or if I want to trick someone into wasting their time)
The ONLY reason I read this is because a post-menopausal lady I worked with at the time said, "Hey this book is great you'll love it! You have to read it and tell me what you think - my book club is reading it! I got it at Costco!" So about four chapters into it I thought, "wait this is really depressing and I don't want to even finish reading this when I can read my Bridget Jones talk about Vodka and Pride and Prejudice." But I already told her I would finish reading it and ...more
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I'll have to think about this...I may go back and add another star, depending on what stays with me. I think if I wasn't reading this book through a Latter-day Saint lens, I would have given it four stars, because the prose is absolutely gorgeous.
This is the story of Dinah, the sister of Reuben, Gad, Asher, Levi, Joseph, Benjamin, etc., etc. You know, the twelve sons of Jacob. It is written by Anita Diamant, and does a wonderful job of giving motivation to all the things that happen from ...more
This is the story of Dinah, the sister of Reuben, Gad, Asher, Levi, Joseph, Benjamin, etc., etc. You know, the twelve sons of Jacob. It is written by Anita Diamant, and does a wonderful job of giving motivation to all the things that happen from ...more
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bookshelves:
fiction,
historicalfiction
Read in October, 2007
I wish I didn't hear so much hype about certain things. I expected this to blow me away. And I did enjoy it, and I was intruiged by the historical aspects and by aspects of the plot. There is a however, coming later.
The second half of the book, I enjoyed more. Basically after the whole craziness with the murdering brothers happened, I felt like it picked up for me a bit. I guess when it was more conjecture on the author's part, and less historical showing off, I enjoyed it more.
Especiall...more
The second half of the book, I enjoyed more. Basically after the whole craziness with the murdering brothers happened, I felt like it picked up for me a bit. I guess when it was more conjecture on the author's part, and less historical showing off, I enjoyed it more.
Especiall...more
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bookshelves:
adult-fiction
recommends it for: Fans of historical fiction who aren't easily offended.
Read in February, 2008
recommended to Jen by:
Maryrecommends it for: Fans of historical fiction who aren't easily offended.
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 ...more
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 ...more
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bookshelves:
biblical,
favorites,
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philos-psychology,
religion
Read in February, 2008
It doesn't matter at all what is fiction and what is history in this book - it is just as lovely to imagine what it would be like if such a custom as "the red tent" did exist. I have now finished the book. WOW! Diamant truely moves our emotions. The beauty of birth, the sorrows AND wonders of aging, the horror of injustice - elements that are a part of all lives. The ending of the book is so beautiful and profound. What exactly is it that we want to reap from our lives? What hurts mos...more
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Read in January, 2002
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 l...more
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 l...more
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I had to read "The Red Tent" for a book club I was in a few years ago. I agree with an earlier post that decribes it as chick-lit masquerading as historical fiction. It also seemed to be two different books - one set in the desert with Jacob, biblical super-stud, and his wives; and the other one set in ancient Egypt. There were all sorts of things that irritated me about this book, including:
1. Descriptions like how everyone loves Rachel because she smells like water. What kind of ...more
1. Descriptions like how everyone loves Rachel because she smells like water. What kind of ...more
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Read in January, 2005
I love this book - very enchanting and captivating.
From the Publisher
Deeply affecting, The Red Tent combines rich storytelling with a valuable contribution in modern fiction: a new perspective of female life in biblical society. It is a vast and stirring work described as what the Bible might have been had it been written by God's daughters instead of sons.
Far beyond the traditional women-of-the-Bible sagas in both impact and vigor, The Red Tent is based upon a mention in Genesis of J...more
From the Publisher
Deeply affecting, The Red Tent combines rich storytelling with a valuable contribution in modern fiction: a new perspective of female life in biblical society. It is a vast and stirring work described as what the Bible might have been had it been written by God's daughters instead of sons.
Far beyond the traditional women-of-the-Bible sagas in both impact and vigor, The Red Tent is based upon a mention in Genesis of J...more
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Read in January, 2005
One of my favorite books. After I read it, I began taking "Red Tent Days." I live in a household of men (one husband, three sons), but one day a month I go to my room and drink tea and read and tune out the testosterone.
The red tent is the place where women gathered during their cycles of birthing, menses, and even illness. Like the conversations and mysteries held within this feminine tent, this sweeping piece of fiction offers an insider's look at the daily life of a bibli...more
The red tent is the place where women gathered during their cycles of birthing, menses, and even illness. Like the conversations and mysteries held within this feminine tent, this sweeping piece of fiction offers an insider's look at the daily life of a bibli...more
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Read in July, 2008
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While I enjoyed the parts about midwifery and wish that a place like the Red Tent really did exist, I think that the author got the story all wrong. She turned all the men in the book, including men like Jacob and Joseph, into sex crazed, egotistical, superstitious bigots. I think she took WAY TOO much creative license and basically re-wrote the bible to her liking. In some part she didn't even try to be historically accurate with what the bible says.For example, she says that Joseph and Potifar...more
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Read in March, 2007
recommends it for:
Anyone who likes historical fiction or family sagas.
This is the second book I have read recently which is based on events which occured in the bible, and it is by far the better one. The story is so alive and flowing that I have finished the book within one day and it has stood in sharp contrast to the previous book I read, which was much longer, took much more time and effort to read and was a lot heavier.
The book tells the story of Dinah. A character hardly mentioned in the bible except for a few lines (after finishing the book, I fished out ...more
The book tells the story of Dinah. A character hardly mentioned in the bible except for a few lines (after finishing the book, I fished out ...more
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