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The Red Tent

4.12 of 5 stars 4.12 · rating details · 237,140 ratings · 12,484 reviews

Her name is Dinah. In the Bible, her life is only hinted at in a brief and violent detour within the more familiar chapters of the Book of Genesis that are about her father, Jacob, and his dozen sons.

Told in Dinah's voice, this novel reveals the traditions and turmoils of ancient womanhood-the world of the red tent. It begins with the story of her mothers-Leah, Rachel, Zil...more

ebook, 336 pages

Published April 1st 2010 by St. Martin's Press (first published 1997)

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Oct 17, 2012 Jena rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition 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 she was "expecting f...more

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Dec 31, 2007 Skylar Burris rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: judaism

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, but 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 fau...more 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, but 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 faults and virtues, moments of greatness and of pettiness. In Diamant’s novel, we largely see only one side to these men--the downside. We never get any sense that they are worth caring about, that there is any emotion within in them that we, as readers, can relate to. The narrator states that Jacob was devastated by Joseph's reported death, but we have no reason to believe it, since the author has neither developed nor depicted any love or affection between them. Although Diamant seems to be developing something interesting in the nature of Judah, she quickly drops the matter.

The author unnecessarily, I believe, alters some segments of the Biblical narrative. She even suggests that the significant, divine naming of Israel (a true milestone in the Jewish story) was nothing more than Jacob's cowardly choice to change his name so as not to be associated with the slaughter in Schechem. When Rachel steals her father's household idol in the novel, Jacob seems both to know and yet not to care (at least for a long time). In the Bible, however, he thinks no one among him has taken it, and he basically says, "If anyone took it, let him die," in effect unknowingly cursing his beloved wife, who does die later in childbirth. Had Diamant not altered this point, it might have made for some wonderful pathos in the novel.

Despite being written by a Jewish author, The Red Tent is in many ways an expression of a growingly popular modern neo-paganism, which incorporates the myth of the universal, goddess/Mother, feminist ideology, and a sort of body/self worship. I don't complain that Anita Diamant made some of the characters pagan; it is clear from the Bible that many early pre Israelites were, and of course, the Israelites themselves were always sliding back to idol worship. But in The Red Tent, Jacob appears to be the only monotheist in the world (and even his monotheism is on shaky grounds). What is more, polytheism almost seems to be portrayed as a healthy, feminine alternative to the somewhat deranged patriarchal religion of Jacob's fathers (an idea that does not comport too well with the actual historical treatment of women in cultures that embrace polytheism and goddess worship). (less)

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Jun 12, 2007 Sammy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: a-the-best

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 follow...more 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 follow each and every one of them and become absorbed.

Diamant's writing took me back to this time period, and instead of pointing out all that was bad and raw in a time we often look back on as savage and uncivilized, she points out and embraces everything that was wonderful. Or at least she writes in such a way you look at it as completely normal and okay. I was also surprised how much these people embraced womanhood, when often when you hear about those times it's all about how women were submissive and cursed, born only to be slaves to men. But the women in nearly every culture Dinah passed through were respected for the most part, and held some sort of power. This is not the time when men began stepping on the women. Something happened between then and now that changed the view of womanhood to be ugly and wrong.

Speaking of the women, the one problem I had was that the women the first third of the book was dedicated to, just ended up disappearing. We were lead to fall in love with these women, only to have them later have them fall off the radar. It's not a huge flaw, because Dinah has to lose them as well, and they fall of her radar as well and we do learn what happened to them in the end, but still...

Other than that one small, but understandable flaw, this book was fantastic. Dinah goes on an amazing journey and it is told beautifully in her voice. Diamant has a wonderful gift as a storyteller. Do yourself a favor and sit down with this book, you will hear Dinah speak and you will feel the gritty, dirty, wonderful world she lives in. Don't let the fact that it was taken from the Bible deterr you. Diamant writes in such a way that if you are familiar with the Bible things come up and you're like, "Hey!" But, if you're not religious at all, she writes so that you aren't shut out from a special world, you are welcomed and embraced and the story is still just as wonderful.(less)

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Jun 07, 2008 Embee rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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...more

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Jul 14, 2007 Rachael rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My frustration with this book stemmed primarily from the depiction of the various characters. I liked the writing, I liked the way Diamant addresses the contemporary socio-cultural issues, and I thought the characterization was quite vivid--I just didn't agree with the way the characters were presented. Yes, the people in the Bible were real people with varied flaws and gifts, but I didn't like the portrayal of so many of them as petty and conniving. And I especially didn't like the sexual depic...more

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Feb 21, 2008 Jen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Fans of historical fiction who aren't easily offended.

Recommended to Jen by: Mary Pitts

Shelves: adult-fiction

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 befo...more

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Nov 13, 2010 K.D. Oliveros rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to K.D. by: Jose Nacianceno

Shelves: retelling, religion, drama

For me, this is a book that is hard not to like. Last month, I and some friends here in Goodreads agreed to read the Bible for 12 months. Most of us are now on the seventh book, Judges and so far, my favorite is still Genesis. The reason is that there are just too many interesting events in it and so many unforgettable characters whose stories can be told and retold many times but we will not be tired hearing about them.

One of these stories is that of Isaac and Sara who have two sons, Esau and J...more

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May 18, 2008 Liz rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 the ti...more 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 the time Jacob meets Rachel through where Simeon (she calls him Simon) and Levi kill Dinah's husband.

She also does a beautiful, heart-tenderizing job of tying each of us as women to the concourse of womanhood from the beginning of time. My friend gave me this book for Christmas. As I read about the ties of womanhood, I realize what she was thinking of as she gave me this book, for she and I, and she and my mother, and I and her mother are all tied together by many of the red strings that Ms Diamant speaks of. The reason I had to put off reading it for five months is that I've been teaching a class in Old Testament, and since it's been about fifteen years since I've taught the class, or even studied the Old Testament, I've not had discretionary time to read. However, it was a wonderful segue into this book. The scenes in the King James Version are still fresh in my mind, and I was able to appreciate how she wove them in.

However, her treatment of Joseph has left a bad taste in my mouth. Though she has the tale come from an enemy of Joseph's, the word is that he bedded Potipher's wife, rather than the story we get in Genesis. In that and in other things she paints him as an opportunist and hints that he is gay.

But then, that is Dinah talking, and she never has forgiven her brothers. But, listen to one of her final paragraphs: Egypt loved the lotus because it never dies. It is the same for people who are loved. Thus can something as insignificant as a name--two syllables, one high, one sweet--summon up the innumerable smiles and tears, sighs and dreams of a human life.

Ah, what the heck. I'll give it four stars. That's what will stay with me.

(less)

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Jul 16, 2008 Gracielou rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: any adult

Recommended to Gracielou by: my friend Julie

In Hebrew literature, there is a form called Midrash which in essence is an exegesis on Hebrew texts. Even though I'm not Jewish, I would personally categorize this book as Midrash.

Why? Because Anita Diamant does not stray from the Jacob/Dinah story in the bible one whit. Many people who read this book and then go back to the biblical texts are surprised to find that there are household gods and concubines and that Jacob used some rather superstitious means to breed spotted goats, that Rachel cl...more

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Nov 03, 2008 Cindy rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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May 27, 2008 Heather rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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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Dec 16, 2007 Bobby rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed

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 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! (less)

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Jun 08, 2008 Vanessa rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 water - pond w...more

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Apr 19, 2007 Joanne rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition 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 th...more

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Jan 19, 2012 Charly rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Anyone

My first read of anything by Diamant. While this book may seem targeted toward women it is one from which anyone would gain insight into the cultural roles of early biblical times. As the jacket says, this is a famous biblical story told from the feminist side. The style is light although the subject matter is not. Diamant is a master storyteller. Read it it will do you good.

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Feb 10, 2010 Books Ring Mah Bell rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My apologies to Anita Diamant. This book is good, in the sense that she takes an interesting concept (a bit of the bible) and expounds upon it. And, in all fairness, she wrote well. Alas, this was just NOT my cup of tea. No sir.

Here I'd like to throw in a disclaimer that I am not one who finds the Bible holy. If I were and then I read this book, I'm thinking I may have been offended. So, be warned if you think you are getting biblical fiction that is... unoffensive? All I can say about this is t...more My apologies to Anita Diamant. This book is good, in the sense that she takes an interesting concept (a bit of the bible) and expounds upon it. And, in all fairness, she wrote well. Alas, this was just NOT my cup of tea. No sir.

Here I'd like to throw in a disclaimer that I am not one who finds the Bible holy. If I were and then I read this book, I'm thinking I may have been offended. So, be warned if you think you are getting biblical fiction that is... unoffensive? All I can say about this is there's a whole lot of sheep humping and Jacob jerking off early on in the book. Then again, there's bestiality in the bible... so, whatever. Be warned.

Why didn't this book float my boat? For the same reasons it made me VERY VERY thankful I live in modern times.

1. The red tent - refers to a place the woman all go when ill, giving birth or menstruating. Dear GOD. I can think of nothing worse than having to spends DAYS in a tent with a bunch of ill, birthing and/or hormonal women. (Yes, I went there. That's one of my problems with women - those hormone surges can be MAD unpleasant.)

2. Birth - Thank heavens for medical care! Now, I have nothing at all against midwives, in fact, I think women who labor and give birth at home (as long as they are healthy enough to do so) are kick ass. Honestly, all the birth without epidurals and such... women are tough. That being said, I would have perished along with my son in the red tent. So, thank you medicine for epidurals, c-sections that a mom can survive, and for great neonatal care. Woot.

3. Call me old fashioned, a prude, whatever, but I dig this thing called monogamy. I enjoy not having to share my husband. I can't even fathom "sharing" him with my sisters (of course, I have no sisters, but still!!! NO FREAKING WAY!)

4. I also dig that I don't have to have "relations"* with family. I have no brothers, either, and while my cousins are all very nice people, I don't want to "know"* them like that. EVER.

5.uh.

*"relations" and "know" tweak me when describing sex. as does calling a penis or vagina his or her sex. I don't know why, but it does. They were used appropriately in this book, because some of the alternatives just wouldn't fit and honestly, are not much better.
(less)

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Jun 14, 2007 Chavah rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: everyone. (esp. Jews and Xtians)

Shelves: gddess-worship, jewish-studies, womens-studies, religion-theology, sociology-anthropology

i can't remember the last time a book made me cry. (Midrash, gotta love it) ;-)

the only people i have ever met, who actually believed Dinah was "raped" (as recorded in the Bible) have been men...

granted, that might say something about the circles i tend to move in (hasidic) and our propensity for personal interpretation of the scriptures (to an embarrassing degree, at times) but any woman, rebbetzin/wife/mother/sister/otherwise, which i have discussed this story with (speaking of the scripture)...more

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Aug 25, 2010 Stephanie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Stephanie by: My mother-in-law

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. As I read The Red Tent, a little thing started to bug me. Almost without fail, the women were strong, smart, and moral. On the other hand, the men were virtually always weak, selfish, and kind of dumb. It struck me as rather two-dimensional.

Then I realized what author Anita Diamant was doing. She was asking, “What would the Bible be like if it were written by women?”*

I can’t be the only one who gets frustrated by the Old Testament because practically every woman in it ends up looking bad -- weak...more As I read The Red Tent, a little thing started to bug me. Almost without fail, the women were strong, smart, and moral. On the other hand, the men were virtually always weak, selfish, and kind of dumb. It struck me as rather two-dimensional.

Then I realized what author Anita Diamant was doing. She was asking, “What would the Bible be like if it were written by women?”*

I can’t be the only one who gets frustrated by the Old Testament because practically every woman in it ends up looking bad -- weak, easily tempted, a harlot, a pillar of salt...face it, women don’t fare too well in the OT. I always chalked this up to the fact that the Bible was written (or written down, however you want to look at it) by men, men that brought their own outlooks and prejudices to the text.

Diamant turns the tables on men. She tells the story of Jacob and his family from the point of view of his only daughter, Dinah. The result is that, in The Red Tent, those bad things you read about in the Bible still happen, but this time, they’re all the fault of those big, dumb men.

It was fun for awhile, but after the novelty wore off, I found myself longing for a little more complexity and maybe just a hint of the old familiar Bible stories. In particular, I missed the humility and wisdom of Joseph who, in this telling, is a selfish, despotic jerk. I think Diamant is a good writer and it was easy to immerse myself in her world. I only wish that world hadn’t been so black and white.

(Note: You may want to avoid this book if you don’t like...er...people “knowing” each other in the Biblical sense. This book is positively saturated with that sort of thing. Some of it even made me cry, “TMI!”)

-----

* Alternatively, Diamant could have been imagining the story of Dinah taking place in that evil parallel universe in Star Trek where the people that are normally good are all bad, but I discarded that theory because I saw no evidence of an over-abundance of goatees.

Update: (8/25/10) So I upped the review to four stars because even now, weeks after I finished the book, I am still thinking about it. Many of the characters could have used more development, but Dinah is complex, interesting, and flawed and gives a person a lot to think about. And I always have to remind myself that just because a book doesn't turn out the way I'd like it to, or just because I don't like certain characters doesn't mean it isn't a good book. Sigh.(less)

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Jul 18, 2008 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: adult women who can think of it as a novel and nothing more

Recommended to Melissa by: Brandee Oakley

Shelves: bookclub

Since book club is over, I'll review this book. The Red Tent is one of my favorite books. Two things I would recommend for anyone considering reading this book: 1) don’t read up on the bible story until after finishing the novel; 2) If you know the bible story well, read this novel as that, just a novel of fiction relating nothing to the bible story. I have spoilers in this review, so continue reading with caution! I didn’t give it five stars because it’s a little too controversial and I was dis...more

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Oct 30, 2007 Samantha Newman rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, historicalfiction

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.

Especially during...more 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.

Especially during the first half I found myself half rolling my eyes at how affected it all seemed. Many times it read like a high school or middle school history text book where they have a little colored box in the lower right corner that says "Voices From The Past" or something, with an illustration of a period girl, and a paragraph telling about her daily life back in the day.

I think the author is probably a stronger non-fiction writer, b/c this book felt, many times, like she was just trying to show us all she knew about this time period and this culture. It felt a bit insincere to me, not genuine. The fictional parts I mean. And it might be partially because I'm familiar with the story more or less (don't be impressed, it's from the musical), but a lot of the book felt like an attempt at integrating the Biblical version with facts about ancient Jewish / goddess worship culture/religion along with some fiction, kind of stirred in as a last thought or something?

The times where I rolled my eyes a bit are the times where she would wax poetic and get all Oprah's book clubby and all "women are so great and myyyyssssttttiiiccaaaal." I like when a book tells me women are so great, don't get me wrong. I just prefer it when that message doesn't hit me over the head. It's all about subtlety.

I just complained a lot but I did enjoy the book for the most part. Reading about what this culture was like, whether it's true or not, was really fascinating, especially having recently had a baby. Quite a different picture. But still nice to be in this fellowship of mothers. I hope I do a good job.(less)

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May 06, 2012 Emily rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

We know so little about most of the women in the scriptures and Dinah is one of those relegated to a small bit part in her own life, barely mentioned outside the traumatic events of Genesis 34. So I greatly appreciate it when an author uses research and the scanty details in the scriptural record to try to flesh out these fascinating characters.

The setting - in Old Testament times - is completely alien to my life, but Ms. Diamant did a good job drawing the reader in with experiences and emotions...more

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Jul 12, 2010 Louize rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Red Tent refers to the tent used for birthing and menses cycle. A tent provided for the women alone- no man may enter, nor peek, from its folds. Within lies the story of some, if not the most, popular women from the Book of Genesis. While a man’s story was told by their sons unto their sons; a woman’s life was passed on by their daughters. A woman without a daughter may be forgotten by the next generation easily. They may be considered lucky if they were even hinted in some of the stories. L...more

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Oct 30, 2010 Karla rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read this story over Mother's Day weekend so my take on it is the celebration of womanhood. I was absolutely fascinated by this time in history that is so vastly differnt from our modern times. I think if you are overly conservative and only look at the biblical inaccuracies you will miss out on a story with a gorgeous prose. I would caution you to read this as it is a work of "fiction". This is a family saga Diamant loosley wove biblical history into. told thru Jacob's only daughter Dinah and...more

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Dec 19, 2008 Matt rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Okay, so I knew before I read this book that it wasn't written for my demographic. I'm an adult male. This is a woman's book through and through. With that disclaimer in place, take what I'm about to say worth a grain of salt: I really didn't care for this book.

The Red Tent is the "Fried Green Tomatoes," "Steel Magnolias," or "The Notebook" of the Old Testament set. It tracks the life of a quaternary character in Genesis, Dinah, from before her birth to after her death. Diamant takes massive, bu...more Okay, so I knew before I read this book that it wasn't written for my demographic. I'm an adult male. This is a woman's book through and through. With that disclaimer in place, take what I'm about to say worth a grain of salt: I really didn't care for this book.

The Red Tent is the "Fried Green Tomatoes," "Steel Magnolias," or "The Notebook" of the Old Testament set. It tracks the life of a quaternary character in Genesis, Dinah, from before her birth to after her death. Diamant takes massive, but necessary, liberties with the story. There simply isn't enough in the initial account to tell a bedtime story, let alone a novel. She expands Dinah's life into an ensign for the lives, loves, and losses of women everywhere. (And if that sounds a little melodramatic, that's because the novel itself strikes that melodramatic tone).

Diamant writes in a beautiful voice, and develops stirring and evocative passages describing both the internal and external environs of Dinah's life. She immerses the reader in a very foreign culture and world, and does so without pandering or over-explaining the culture--all the while refraining from the obtuseness or clumsy colloquialism that is often found in this type of novel.

The major themes of the joy of menstruation and child birth, the origin of life in the shedding of blood, drench the pages of this novel (if you'll excuse the pun). As a man, I simply can't identify with this theme. But besides my ability to "sync my cycle," as it were, my biggest problem with this book lies in the story itself. Dinah's one or two verse mention in Genesis is so brief and so vague. Diamant's artistic license creates a story that is just not believable. Dinah is like Forrest Gump; she's there for every major event, she meets all the important people, and it just seems all a little too convenient. Additionally, Diamant disregards the biblical narrative of the events actually described to such an extent that the very nature of those events is nearly unrecognizable.

Diamant also makes mistakes in this novel: first she alternates between an extremely awkward 2nd person voice and a 3rd person voice. Secondly, the book, despite being crammed with drama after drama and event after event, was poorly paced. Too much description of the unimportant things, not enough of the ones that affect the story.

Overall, The Red Tent is not a book for me. I can't identify with the themes of the book, and the shortcomings in the writing are substantial enough that I'm unable to bridge that gap. (less)

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Feb 14, 2008 Chrissie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: hf, kirkus, biblical, favorites, philo-psychol, religion

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 most? To be to...more

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Sep 10, 2007 Samantha rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: women everywhere

While the term biblical fiction may be applicable to this particular book, it feels more like biblical non-fiction. The stories of Rachel, Leah, Zilpah, Bilhah, and Dinah are more real in this narrative than they ever were in my countless Sundays spent in Hebrew class. Though this book strikes a particular cord with me being a Jewish woman, this tale of the secret lives of women can be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of religion. In this book, characters whose names have usually only been spoken i...more

6 likes · like · see review

Jul 24, 2007 Stefani rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook

I suffered through this book...just because I felt like I'd started it, I may as well finish it. The "chick flick," of biblical revisionism...the "Ya ya sisterhood," of desert matriarchy.

It seemed to go on forever rewriting the histories of Jacon, Leah and Rachel...then elaborating on the amazing sisterhood and bonding that happens around the red tent...implying all the way that women have all the power, men take all the credit.

The writing finally became compelling upon the description of the de...more

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Oct 01, 2007 Crystal rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: who like Bible stories retold with a flair of creative license

Shelves: novels, books-i-didn-t-enjoy

I didn't like this book. I started it years ago, and got partly through it, but put it down and didn't get back to it for years later. That alone should say a lot.
the book tries to creatively retell the story of Jacob and his family from the Bible. the author for the most part sticks with the basics from the Bible narrative, but builds on top of it a bold, earthy, imaginative story. I give her credit for making a living, breathing story out of a story that could become inhumane through its fami...more

4 likes · like · see review

Feb 12, 2007 Feather Stolzenbach rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 Jacob's onl...more

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Feb 11, 2008 Peggy rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Okay, I really struggled through this book. I loved reading from the perspective of a woman in the Old Testament. That part was great. I have been told many-a-time that I am an individual who CHOOSES to be naive and for that reason, I didn't like the way the author portrayed some of the characters--some of my heroes--from the OT. There were just some disturbing things in there--like Jacob masturbating--(there is worse than that in the book, believe me) that I thought were AWFUL. In the end, Jose...more

11 likes · like · see review

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About Anita Diamant

Anita Diamant is a prizewinning journalist whose work has appeared regularly in the Boston Globe Magazine and Parenting magazine. She is the author of six books about contemporary Jewish practice, one collection of autobiographical essays (Pitching My Tent) and three prior novels. The Red Tent, her first novel, was a national bestseller and the Booksense Book of the Year. Good Harbor and The Last...more

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“If you want to understand any woman you must first ask about her mother and then listen carefully. Stories about food show a strong connection. Wistful silences demonstrate unfinished business. The more a daughter knows about the details of her mother's life - without flinching or whining - the stronger the daughter.” — 232 people liked it

“The painful things seemed like knots on a beautiful necklace, necessary for keeping the beads in place.” — 91 people liked it

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