The Red Tent

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Average customer rating 4.9 (17 comments)

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Beautiful and lyrical, "The Red Tent" fills in the gaps of the Biblical narrative telling the story of Dinah, daughter of Jacob. Like many old and classic texts, the Bible is woefully lacking on the details of the lives of women, and I found Anita Diamant's account of the lives of the Biblical women to be incredibly compelling and believable, filled with the sights and sounds of the ancient Middle East. I thought it quite an interesting choice that the wives and daughters of Jacob kept their polytheistic beliefs rather than being forced to adopt the Abrahamic God, as the men were along with their circumcisions. I loved the attention paid to the celebrations in the red tent when a young woman came of age and the cult of Inanna. "The Red Tent" seems to be considered a classic of historical fiction, and I can understand why.

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This is a wonderfully layered account of life in ancient times, from a female's perspective. It takes no time before we are captured by Dinah's spirit, her resilience, and her journey into a mature woman of many talents, grace and integrity. Coming from a non-religious background, I found it intriguing, and also enlightening to entertain what the biblical times would have been like for a woman. Definitely a must read for any female who is looking to strengthen herself within.

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I thought this was a very good book - especially for women.

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A really beautiful story full of rich details describing the way women in nomadic cultures once lived together and depended upon one another for childbirth, the raising of children and in caring for their tribes. Told from the perspective of a midwife, she recounts her stories of the red tent - a place women were exiled during the three days of the new moon in order for them to have their menstruation away from the men and the place in which women went to birth their children. The red tent was a place of bonding and communing with each other. It's a very beautiful concept when compared with the way we largely ignore our bodies cycles in today's society. I was fascinated by the simple fact that a woman's body was once aligned to the moon and to the women she surrounded herself with and I was a little saddened that we've grown so out of alignment with our natural connections to the earth.

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Whether it is the age of the Book of Genesis or the 21st century, women are still looked to as the breeders of society. No matter the millennium, a woman’s role remains constant: to ensure that life continues to the next generation. With its strong female voice, The Red Tent by Anita Diamant is a powerful, moving book that illustrates this concept of life. Diamant’s novel takes the reader back into biblical times to examine the historical female perspective. Dinah, the main character, is a daughter of four mothers. The novel consists of Dinah’s recollections, first of her mothers’ stories and then her own. As Dinah and her four mothers, Leah, Rachel, Bilhah, and Zilpah, undergo their monthly cycles, they band together in the red tent, a place where they learn to treasure the processes of womanhood. To understand Dinah’s life journey in and out of the red tent, hearing the experiences of her many mothers is vital. Dinah states, “If you want to understand any woman you must first ask about her mother and then listen carefully” (2). This book emphasizes that women have a past and possess more substance than beauty. Acknowledging the topics the topics debated within the novel such as menstruation, love, and lust, The Red Tent is centered towards a female audience. Any woman would enjoy Diamant’s gripping story that focuses on Dinah’s self discovery and the importance of appreciating life’s natural order. Diamant’s use of culture and setting creates a strong emphasis on the roles of women. In biblical times, a woman’s sole duty was that of caretaker. Simply put, women existed to breed, cook, and provide care. The women in Dinah’s family did just that. Between Dinah’s mother, Leah, and her four aunts, 13 children were born. Specifically, Leah gave birth to eight of the 13. Set in the Promised Land, near Canaan and Egypt, these women lived through times void of birth control or obstetric technology. As early as age 14, a woman was to be wed and impregnated. Bearing children was both an honor and a duty to one’s tribe. Most women were pleased to make this contribution. Being pregnant was a comforting constant. Dinah tells, “Many babies were born, and most survived. Leah wore the mantle of the great mother, seemingly always pregnant or nursing” (45). Life was always being reborn. Another significant role of the women of this era was to keep history alive. Without a written record, much of a woman’s life would be lost if not for their tradition of oral storytelling. Dinah, as the sole daughter of Jacob, heard every story and memorable event. To keep her mothers’ and their mothers’ memories alive, it was her mission to pass on the tales to the next generation. Dinah says, “It is terrible how much has been forgotten, which is why, I suppose, remembering seems a holy thing” (3). Dinah as a woman not only guarantees that life will continue, but through her memories ensures that the past is a part of the future. The history of these women is magnified by the book’s structure. The setup of the novel as a recollection is important to illustrate the significance of remembering one’s ancestors. Through the setting and time period, Diamant raises the question of the red tent’s importance both traditionally and religiously. Diamant calmly discusses the issues of religion and gender. Her novel is a successful blend of historical facts and fiction as her insights into the biblical world examine the impact religion and tradition had upon daily life. According to Dinah, the red tent is a religious ceremony that women are honored to partake in. Leah states, “In the red tent, where days pass like a gentle stream, as the gift of Innana courses through us, cleansing the body of last month’s death, preparing the body to receive the new month’s life, women give thanks” (158). Although the red tent most likely derived from the men’s desire to avoid any association with female practices, the repeated customs of the red tent slowly evolved into a religious event. Any woman that refused to enter the red tent would be treated as an abomination. To this day, confusion exists as to whether a red tent was specified within the bible, or whether its origin appeared out of necessity. Diamant’s discussion of this predicament makes one question what is truly derived from the bible or what has become a part of religion due to frequent occurrence. The use of language and culture allows the reader to picture oneself within the tale while still allowing one to decipher her own personal values. Diamant sets the scene with old world language and native words and names such as Shalem and Hamor, who were respectively Dinah’s beloved and her father-in-law. Diamant creates two intersecting tales: one of Dinah’s life thousands of years ago and one of today’s women. The simplicity of a woman’s life back then starkly contrasts the diversity of a woman’s world today. As a modern female, many more lifestyle choices are available, but the fundamental need to shoulder the responsibility of childbearing remains. Surprisingly enough, woman’s natural instincts have not evolved too much. The roles of one time period to another resemble each other even given the changes in life that have taken place over the centuries. Diamant showcases a strong analysis of women of the ages. As the core of one’s female priorities, little has changed. Her book, The Red Tent, expresses the importance of self discovery and the appreciation of womanhood. This novel is an addicting read for women, young to old, examining life’s purpose.

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This book brings your old Sunday School stories to life. You will find yourself putting yourself into the shoes of Ruth, Naomi and their contemporaries and wondering what it would have been like to live their lives. It is a must-read for women!

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This powerfully written novel gives voice to the women's perspective at an important junction in human history, the shift from Earth & season based spirituality, honoring the great mother Innana, to a male dominant, 'one God' perspective. I love Diamant's attention to detail, from the removal of the household gods (Teraphim) from Laban's altar before Jacob, 'his wives & his sons, his brindled & spotted flocks' depart, to Dinah & her mother's meeting with 'the grandmother' (Abraham's second wife) Rebecca, who dwells in the sacred grove, & keeps the old ways. Diamant's portrayal of this group of strong & diverse women gives voice to forgotten stories. & offers another view into this time of transition. Highly recommended!

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I don't usually like biblical fiction but this book was the exception. Based loosely on the Book of Ruth from the Bible The Red Tent was very absorbing and interesting. Diamant does an excellent job of transporting the reader back to Biblical Times. The idea for a Red Tent is one I wish we had today. The tent is a place where women bond and relax and are waited on. Sounds like a good idea to me. Of course the sanitary conditions left a lot to be desired. This book was very moving and easily the best I read in the last decade.

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This is an amazing book that I read and re-read to remind me of the power of womanhood.

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This book had it all! Drama, romance, history-and so well written.

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This book put my life on hold for 2 days. It was fascinating, spell-bounding, and indescribable reading!! The women were courageous and fabulous!! What a read, and this book is in my top two favorite books EVER! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

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If you like historical novels and have any interest into getting insight on what it was like to live in Biblical times as a nomadic people, you MUST read this book!! If you like historical novels of ANY kind you MUST read this book!! It's captivating and impossible to put down.

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This book was facinating! I had not read a historical fiction and was amazed at the amount of research the author must have completed to write this book. I had so much empathy for the women in this book. Reading about strong women has now become a priority for me, all because of this book.

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One of the most diverse, celebratory, empowering portraits of the incredible variety of ways there are to be feminine, to be strong AND loving as a woman, to be independent AND engaged in your community and your partnership. A historically INCLUSIVE view of the patriarchal story that is generally used oppress and stifle young women, woven here in empowering celebration without forgetting the challenges of growing, maturing & choosing one's path that are present in every generation.

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I very much enjoyed reading this book and I feel it is a very important contribution to bibilical fiction. And, perhaps it is a true telling of the biblical story.

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Anita Diamant fills in the story of Jacob in the book of Genesis with thought-provoking ideas about what could have been. As a new mother, I found Diamant's Women's Studies research food for the soul as I was able to connect with my female ancestry through the process of pregnancy, child labor and birth, and motherhood. Relationships between women have been and continue to be a complex and mysterious web of love and life and The Red Tent pulls in the reader into a better understanding of the world of mothers and daughters, aunts, friends, acquaintances and the men in their lives. I highly recommend this book.

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This book was a beautiful & intense read. The pivotal heartbreaking moment in the main characters life had me crying for 2 days. I've never been so moved emotionally by a love story in my life, as I was from this book.