 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 by Anita Diamant The daughter of Jacob, Dinah is mentioned only briefly in the book of Genesis. In this novel Dinah
tells her story, giving voice not only to her life, but that of her four mothers and the other women who
gather monthly in the "red tent". The tent is not only a place for menstruation and birthing, but a
sanctuary where the women share their secrets, their stories and their lives. This novel breathes life into
one of the oldest stories in existence, the book of Genesis will never seem the same after reading The Red Tent.
| ||||||||||||||
|
 Links of Interest:
Interview with Anita Diamant
Read the story as told in the bible The Bible Gateway offers 9 searchable, annotated, online versions of the bible (in 10 languages too!), I have linked to Genesis 29, where Jacob first meets Rachel (switch versions by using the controls at the top of the page). Read more about it at Amazon.com  Quarantine, by Jim Crace
A work of biblical fiction that revolves around the story of Jesus's forty days in the desert ... | |||||||||||||
Discussion (Let us know what you think at the discussion board): Childbearing and childbirth are central to The Red Tent. How do the firtility childbearing and birthing practices differ from contemporary life? How are they similar? How do they compare with your own experiences as a mother or father? Read Genesis 34 and discuss how The Red Tent changes your perspective on Dinah's story and also on the story of Joseph that follows. Does The Red Tent raise questions about other women in the Bible? Does it make you want to re-read the Bible and imagine other untold stories that lay hidden between the lines? Submit a Review or Quote For "The Red Tent" today! Reader Reviews: Submitted by Karen(January, 2001) An extraordinary novel, one rare to find, rich in historical intrigue, wisdom, passion and good old fashioned love, which apparently flourished in those days quite well. Dinahs voice speaks to us clearly and honestly leaving you touched by the feeling of knowing the thousands of humans before us who have lived and felt joy and felt pain. This novel leaves you to appreciate the magic of womanhood, and also makes us relish our own relationship with our sisters, and to love our friends with more kindness. The Red Tent is simply a must read for modern women. Submitted by Dona(December, 2000) I found myself reading into the wee hours of the morning. Dinah life is truly out of medieval times and my heart aches for her as well as for her mother and aunts. A must read!! Sharon (October 2000)
I thought that this was a fascinating book. The biblical setting and drastically different way of life
was intriguing, and the voice of Dinah was poetic and moving. The writing is beautifully done, and as
a reader I was drawn into Dinah's story completely. But this was much more than just the story of Dinah...
it is the story of motherhood and the role that women play in the story of mankind.
So many aspects of Dinah's life were very different from what we know: relationships between men and women,
rituals and beliefs, women's role in society, this book makes you examine many of these things with relation
to our own times as well as Dinah's. I really liked this book and would recommend it to anyone who's interested
in reading it.
| ||||||||||||||
