The Red Tent in Pick-a-Shelf

Aug 11, 2024 Tien rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, read-on-kobo

This is the story of Dinah, Jacob's only daughter who was barely mentioned in the bible. However, this author has weaved her imagination over who she was and what her life was like as a woman in that time of ancient history. Of course, she had to keep the main (well-known) part of the story.

For the (approximately) first 100 pages of the book was about Jacob and his wives. This is not my favourite bible story. If you know me, you would know that I very much dislike love triangles. And I hate sibl ...more

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May 09, 2012 Lynai rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: own-a-copy

For a moment there, I was hovering between 3 and 4 stars. I'll explain later.

***UPDATE***

Would you believe that I only got my copy of this book for only P5.00? I have been seeing copies for quite some time lying around in Booksale, and not until I read the blurb, I was not that too keen in buying it too soon. However, a 5-peso book is so irresistible, and seeing that the story is actually about a Biblical character, I don’t need any second thoughts before buying it.

The Red Tent is a story of Din For a moment there, I was hovering between 3 and 4 stars. I'll explain later.

***UPDATE***

Would you believe that I only got my copy of this book for only P5.00? I have been seeing copies for quite some time lying around in Booksale, and not until I read the blurb, I was not that too keen in buying it too soon. However, a 5-peso book is so irresistible, and seeing that the story is actually about a Biblical character, I don’t need any second thoughts before buying it.

The Red Tent is a story of Dinah, the daughter of Jacob and Leah, who was raped. A very short account of “The Rape of Dinah” is mentioned in Genesis 34 of the Bible, and other than that, no other description about her life can be found. In this book, Anita Diamant attempts to give a structure to Dinah’s life aside from her being a rape victim. The book is divided into three chapters beginning with the story of her mothers, to the events that led to her rape, up to the end of her life. The Red Tent is a first-person narrative and the storyteller is Dinah herself. I am very much partial in favor of first-person narratives so reading the book through the voice of Dinah (“Dee-nah”) gives off a somewhat personal touch, as if Dinah herself is in front of me telling me the story – her story.

In college, I took up History as my major and often, my female classmates would quip: Why should it always be history? Why not herstory? Most of the history texts we studied were written by men and were therefore told through a man’s perspective, which is not unlike Biblical accounts. I see nothing wrong with it — I am not your hardcore feminist – because it gives a certain order to society. However, hearing (or studying) an account through another person’s perspective (such as a woman) makes us more objective in our view of certain things and issues. Through The Red Tent, Anita Diamant weaves a tapestry of a society told in a woman’s viewpoint. Somehow, this kind of shift in perspective is very refreshing and empowering.

What, exactly, is a red tent? In ancient days, rooms and houses consists of tents, and in this book, the red tent is a room where the women gather every time they have their monthly periods – menstruation – and where men are strictly prohibited to enter. Through the red tent, women forged friendships and alliances, and where entirely female stuff, such as childbirth and menstruation, are greeted with appropriate traditions.

I would like to point out that The Red Tent is not midrash – Anita Diamant herself clarified this – so it must not be considered as an attempt to fill in the gaps left out by the biblical accounts. This is entirely fiction, though at the beginning, I must admit that I had a bit of difficulty in taking in the different view told in the story than that in the Bible. For one, Jacob’s wives, Leah and Rachel, were identified as polytheistic. For two, Jacob was described as hot tempered and irresponsible. And lastly, the apparent “rape” of Dinah was given a romantic twist. But then again, when I finally convinced myself that The Red Tent is not an accurate Biblical account but is merely about speculations and conjectures of what life might have been for Dinah, and for women for that matter, during ancient times, I began to enjoy the book as it is – purely fiction.

The Red Tent is one interesting depiction of herstory and for that I give my affirmation.

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Mar 22, 2010 Micha rated it it was amazing

Shelves: re-read, books-2010, favorites

While I believe in a world of equality and enjoy having a real partner of my own, I do find myself longing for an age long since passed where women bonded through hardship and happiness. The Red Tent provides its reader with a sense of the journey and the family required to help one live through it.

The main character of Dinah is such a strong, rich voice that I immediately felt connected and safe with her. It was as though I had known her for years as the family story-weaver and through her wo ...more

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Oct 05, 2010 Kim DeCina rated it it was ok

Shelves: historical-fiction, spiritual, mediocre

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Full disclosure: While I plan to finish this book, I'm not done with it yet; I've just finished the five minutes that are actually based on the original story, the murder of Dinah's husband. I also am a Wiccan who has barely read any of the Bible, so my interest in this as a book is pretty much entirely literary. From the other reviews I'm seeing here, I'm not missing all that much.

I've had to keep myself from dropping this book a good five or six times, since I'm reading it for a group's readin ...more

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Aug 19, 2008 Tara rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-favorites

It is amazing how Diamant's vivid story telling brought the story of Jacob, his wives, and Dinah's stories to life. I remember hearing bible stories about them growing up, but this book made their lives more relatable to me. I could not help my heart breaking for Dinah and her mothers. (view spoiler) ...more

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Feb 01, 2009 Lindsay rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: bookcrossing, historical, z2009

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

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Apr 17, 2009 Lauren rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, 2009, polygamy

This is book is loosely based on the story of Dinah from the bible. It is not really a religious book at all although religion is touched on a little but mostly the discussion surrounds the idols of the women rather than the biblical God.

I do not consider myself to be a feminist but this book really makes me proud to be a woman. What an amazing story of strength, love and triumph amongst persecution, feuds and other trials and tribulations. This book was a pleasant surprise!

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Nov 28, 2010 Bea rated it liked it · review of another edition

This is a story of Dinah, daughter of Jacob. Her story is barely mentioned in the Bible. where she is but a small adjunct to the larger story of Jacob/Israel. Ms. Diamant has imagined a broader story of Dinah and interwoven her story with elements from the Bible. It is interesting in the description of the life of the women in that time, but the story did not grip me until I reached the third part - Egypt. Here the life of Dinah became compelling with love and friendship and purpose.

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Aug 30, 2014 Rebekah rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: genre-book-club, rating-5, genre-historical-fiction, genre-novels, genre-adult, genre-adult-fiction, genre-feminism, genre-womens, genre-religion, genre-christian

Being named after an Old Testament Bible character, I am well versed with the stories of the male patriarchs found in Genesis. This re-telling of a very minor female character was powerful and fascinating! Anita Diamant is a strong writer that had clearly done her research and painted a vivid picture of the characters, the time, culture, landscape, etc. I was engrossed throughout.

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Feb 24, 2009 Arlene rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This book was recommended to me by my daughter who doesn't read very much fiction. She said, "If the who Bible was written like this, I would read it all." ...more

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