Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful, gripping, ethereal
Review: In leiu of reiterating all of the glowing words already written about this book, I'll simply say this, "This book reminded me of something I never knew that I knew. When I bawled my eyes out at the end and couldn't stop, it wasn't because I was sad or even because I was happy. It was because this book brought me so much closer to all of my mothers mothers than any other single experience or piece of literature in my entire life."
I do agree with the one review that pointed out that the male characters in this book are a bit two-dimensional. But, this book ISN'T ABOUT the male characters.
Beautiful book. I will give it to my daughter when she begins her moon cycle. Thank you Anita Diamant!
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting Historical Glimpse
Review: I like to read books that can give the reader an idea of life during a different period of history and still tell an interesting story. I have always thought of the bible as being full of gripping stories. This book just expands upon one of those stories. This book heavily focuses on women's fertility. At the time I read it, my sister was pregnant. I may have found the book more interesting because it related to events in my life.
Rating: 
Summary: Are you kidding?
Review: I am amazed that readers labelled this book "feminist." Author celebrates polygamy, polytheistic paganism, idol worship, and a 'red tent' ritual, wherein women squat around every month for days on piles of straw like a bunch of hens! That's supposed to be a good thing! Real life-affirming, woman-bonding, like a girls dorm. And aren't they all so supportive, considering that they're all married to the same man? They only shed itty-bitty tears when Jacob selects one of 'em for the night. And what a man was Jacob -- such a schlub the mind boggles to imagine him chosen by God as the wellspring of His religion. All the men of Jacob's tribe were knuckle-scraping sheep-shaggers, according to Ms. Diamant. But the Egyptians, so clean and civilized, and what hunks! Shame about them, Joseph (who, it is broadly hinted, is gay) did so well there. Why couldn't God establish his Religion among the Egyptians, who are so well-dressed, with beautiful homes?
I really wonder, are the "1.5 million women who have loved this book" so lacking in discernment? Girls, this is no more than an especially pulpy (and gamy) entry in the Cecil B. DeMille Bible.
Don't buy this -- in fact you can have my copy. If this book is "feminist" I'll eat Bella Abzug's hat in Macy's window.
Rating: 
Summary: Great read, but more so if you're not a man
Review: "The Red Tent" is a beautifully written, gripping story that had me engrossed from the beginning. The stories of Dinah and the women in her life are rich, compelling, with fascinating attention to details that bring the reader into a different world and time. That said, the book has its flaws. The female characters are complex and multi-faceted, but every male character in the book is flat and two-dimensional. In addition, while the women in the book are all celebrated as heroines (with the exception of Ruti, but she too is left unexplored, a shallow "victim" character), all the men are evil, ruthless, cruel, perverted, or stupid. There are only two main male characters who are "good", but even they are superficial characters with no depth to them. Also, some of the scenes seemed unrealistic to me, especially the joy and release Dinah experiences following her final words with Re-mose. As a mother myself, I found that part hard to believe. I also found it odd that an author who seems to have such passion for the monotheistic, Jewish faith would portray her God and Bible in such a negative light. To the contrary, the book appears to celebrate pantheism and feminism, while scorning the Jewish "patriarchs" and the original story in Genesis. All in all, I enjoyed this book, and as a woman I related to the stories of birth, death, and life in the circle of women. But if you are a man, beware--you may not find many characters in the book that you can relate to or respect.
Rating:
Summary: A must read -- Loved it!
Review: I've been reading through the responses and it seems most people loved the book. Most who didn't love the book seemed to be offended that it strayed too much from the original biblical stories/characters. All I keep thinking while reading their criticism is that the book is meant to be LOOSELY based on the bible. It even states it in the description! If you are looking for a completely accurate biblical story or are very religious and may take offense, then this book probably isn't for you. Peronsally, I loved it. I borrow books from the library rather than purchase because I'm such an avid reader (2 books weekly at least), but this is definitely going to be added to my book collection. There are a lot of characters to remember, which was the only thing I found slightly confusing. Otherwise, I couldn't put it down!
Rating:
Summary: a great way to connect to a jewish woman's spiritual side
Review: how could a jewish female not love this book? i could not put it down the first time i began to read. dinah's story of the strong women of her family is historical fiction, however, diamant makes you feel as if you can experience the story from inside the tent. i cannot wait to share the book with my jewish women's group!!
Rating:
Summary: disappointed
Review: I was intruiged with the idea when I heard about it. Of writing about the Dinah of the Bible. I was severely disappointed by the book. I was disgusted by what I perceived was the unbalanced focus on sex and all types and elements of it. Presented apart from the meaningfulness of the rest of life and interactions among humans. I avoid the soft porn romance novels because of this type of thing. I want relationships, not cartoon characters. The people, women and men, didn't talk or behave like anyone I know or have ever met. I enjoyed finding out more about daily life back in that time, but would've done better to find it out from a non-fiction book.
Rating:
Summary: okay
Review: I quite like to read storys about women and that is what I got here. It was not the best book I ever read, but it could have been worse.
Rating:
Summary: A great book!
Review: I loved this book! The fact that it was based on the bible was a very good idea! You will fall in love with the character and laugh and cry with her!
Rating:
Summary: Compelling story about woman, their strength and history
Review: I truly enjoyed this book. Dinah's story in the bible is told not in her words. It only hints at what happened, and Diamant takes Dinah's life and writes it as it may have been. Dinah's life is truly a "soap opera", and I was compelled by her strengh to survive the things she experienced. The women in the red tent shared, cried, laughed, loved and learned from each other. It was their world away from the men that led them. Their secrets, knowledge and lives carried on generation to generation from daughter to daughter, and reading about this sisterhood enraptured me. A story worthy of 5 stars.
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