Canadian-Literature : The Red Tent: A Novel

The Red Tent: A Novel

CDN$ 10.53


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 biblical sorority of mothers and wives and their one and only daughter, Dinah. Told in the voice of Jacob s daughter Dinah (who only received a glimpse of recognition in the Book of Genesis), we are privy to the fascinating feminine characters who bled within the red tent. In a confiding and poetic voice, Dinah whispers stories of her four mothers, Rachel, Leah, Zilpah, and Bilhah--all wives to Jacob, and each one embodying unique feminine traits. As she reveals these sensual and emotionally charged stories we learn of birthing miracles, slaves, artisans, household gods, and sisterhood secrets. Eventually Dinah delves into her own saga of betrayals, grief, and a call to midwifery. Like any sisters who live together and share a husband, my mother and aunties spun a sticky web of loyalties and grudges, Anita Diamant writes in the voice of Dinah. They traded secrets like bracelets, and these were handed down to me the only surviving girl. They told me things I was too young to hear. They held my face between their hands and made me swear to remember. Remembering women s earthy stories and passionate history is indeed the theme of this magnificent book. In fact, it s been said that The Red Tent is what the Bible might have been had it been written by God s daughters, instead of her sons. --Gail Hudson

Excellent novel - I loved this book, the characters the images that were created - loved it.The bible was written by men, in a time when women did not have a voice. This allows us to open our minds to what might have happened. Every truth has many sides and it was refreshing to see an old story from a new viewpoint. I loved it, my girlfriends all loved it - it is an incredible novel.

Abysmal piece of boring trash - How can anyone think this garbage is in anyway representative of the times?The entire story is absolutely yawn-inspiring.

A Great Easy Read - I loved this haunting book. I couldn t get it out of head. It bothered my sleep and I couldn t sleep until I finished it. People- remember it is FICTION- no need to be all prickly about the way Diamant spins her veiw on the bible stories of Joseph and Jacob. It is a form of entertainment and I was thoroughly entertained and will recommend it to all bookish types.

A Peek Into The Feminine Aspect of Bible History - If the Bible had been written by a group of women this is what it may have been like. As we follow the story of Dinah, whose brother was Joseph of the Amazing Technicolor Coat fame, we see how Bible history unfolds through the eyes of a female. Treated indifferently by the men of her family she bonds with her mothers and aunties during their time in the red tent. The red tent is a place where the tribeswomen went for a period of days during their moon cycle. Here they gave birth, passed their monthly courses, grew old, and passed on their knowledge to each other. As we follow Dinah through her early years and adolescence, we witness her coming of age and becoming one with mother earth. We watch her personal growth as she learns to love, to lose, and to love again. We watch as she trades the family of her youth for the family of her maturity. Biblical history takes a back seat here, giving the story just enough to form the backdrop of a powerful story. Dinah s brother Joseph is portrayed more realistically in this story as a man who wears his celebrity amongst the Egyptians as a heavy yoke instead of a crown. He becomes much more human. The characters in The Red Tent became so much alive for me that I hated to see the story end. Highly recommended.

one of my favorites - This was a book club pick that I really enjoyed. I passed on my copy and the next person loved it ! As long as you keep in mind it s FICTION!!! you ll enjoy the story.




The Red Tent: A Novel