The Red Tent

Rating:
Summary: Simply Awful
Review: The author clearly betrays her lack of familiarity with the times and customs of places she describes. The characters are caricatures of the persons from the Bible. The prose is also awkward. The fact that some of the plot contradicts the biblical text is,I suppose, poetic license. Too bad Diamant is no poet. How can anybody like this book?
If you want good and well written novels on biblical themes, try Paulo Cuelho's "Fifth Mountain" or Lion Feuchtwanger's "Jafteh and his daughter".
Mann's "Joseph and his brothers" is a much better treatment of the Jacob's family saga than "the red tent"

Rating:
Summary: An Eye Opener
Review: I don't think I have ever been more proud to be a woman than after reading The Red Tent. Diamant depicts her women with such strength and richness of soul thatI caught a glimpse of something I think I have always longed for.

Rating:
Summary: A Surprising Biblical Gem!
Review: I first heard of this book when I heard that the Rabbi at our synagogue would be conducting a discussion on Ms. Diamante's novel. My first thought was to mentally prepare myself of some dry account of Biblical times. Boy was I ever wrong!

This was a totally entertaining first-person narrative of the life of Dinah, Jacob's only and basically forgotten daughter - she is only mentioned in the Bible in terms of being a victim. Her story, as much influenced by her mother(s)and the women of the red tent as it was by her famous brothers and father, begins when Jacob first entered the world of Laban and his daughters and follows Dinah through her life, through her joys and tribulations. This sudden interest in women in the Bible in literature is refreshing since women are generally absent from the Bible!

I have to admit that this was one of the best books I had read in a long time and I found that I didn't want it to end! A must read for all (except if you are pregnant with your first child, in which case you may want to wait - a part of the narrative describes Dinah's experiences in midwifery and therefore there are many graphic descriptions of childbirth during Biblical times)

Rating:
Summary: hmmmm
Review: I'm interested in Judaism and historical fiction, but I found The Red Tent rather dull and a bit too much of a bodice-ripper for my tastes. Gave up after a chapter or so.

Rating:
Summary: The Red Tent
Review: This book really brought the biblical characters to life!! It was facinating to read about how life would have been for Joseph's sister. I cried a few times- both happy and sad tears!

I wish that the author would write more books in this historical/non-fiction - fiction mix!! I would love to learn more about the people written about in the bible and this is a much more interesting way to do it then just reading the bible. But one does need to remember that it is a mix of fiction and non-fiction and not to take it all as "gospel". Hope that you enjoy it as much as I did.

Rating:
Summary: a modern classic
Review: I read this book during my pregnancy. It left me with a feeling that birthing and motherhood are great events and rights of passage. Though this may not stricktly follow the Bible's orriginal story, it is an excellent read. I could not put it down. I laughed and cried my way throught it. Books like this, told in first person, with an ever unfolding events make me want more from the same author.
Well done Anita D!!

Rating:
Summary: Interesting Prospective on Life - But not as good as expectd
Review: I did appreciate the perspecptive that this book gives on the womens lives of the time - but I really expected more then I got. Good Read just not an awesome read.

Rating:
Summary: The Red Tent -- Makes Biblical Times Come Alive
Review: I loved this book. The author shows what it would be like to be alive in Old Testament times. Her style of writing is superb and very lyrical. The characters from the Old Testament-- Dinah, Jacob and his wives come alive and you see how they lived their lives You see the friendship these women share as well as the conflicts that come from sharing a husband. This is the best book I've read about Biblical Times.

Rating:
Summary: Unique
Review: Well, it's often hard to find a unique book...this one fits the description though!
I admit i thought it would be boring- but it's not. The tempo of the book is pretty fast and you don't get a chance to get bored.
Some of the stories are very interesting & it's fun to picture what it would be like to be there.

Rating:
Summary: IT COULD HAVE BEEN GREAT
Review: This book has a terrific story line. And I am going to presume
that this "award-winning journalist" did her homework well
enough so that I was informed, rather than misinformed, about
life, customs, and culture of Biblical times. However, time and
again I wanted to throw this book down in disgust. I could find
this kind of writing on the daily soaps. One of the first clues
I ever learned about whether a piece of work was soap opera or
not is this sentence - "I am going to have your baby." In the
real world, we say "I am pregnant," "I am going to have a baby,"
"We are going to have a baby." In this book - "I am going to have your baby." I should have taken my clue then.

I found enough references to body parts and bodily functions
to last a life time. I have come to learn that Ms.Diamant's
favorite word must be blood, in its various forms and meanings,
because it is on nearly every page once the book gets going.
But I would say that the worst is the romanticizing of the
plight of women under subjugation.

If all of the above is what you like, then this is definitely
the book for you. Until I saw the review just previous to mine
I despaired for finding nothing but rave reviews for something
so "not literature." I'll bet Diamant could write a really
fine book if she set her mind and talents to it. I hope next
time she tries it.