Rating: 
Summary: A Woman's Voice
Review: I love Diamants style. She not only gave each woman in The Red Tent character but a voice. I was hooked after reading the first page. However, I must say I became gravely disappointed with the turn of pages post Dinah's retreat to Egypt. Did the two countries so closely together live so opposite in behaviors. Dianah, became shallow. Why didn't we hear about how she coped with the changing world she lived in. What kind of foods did she eat. Why didn't she speak to her Father at the end? Hmmm. Although, I do not believe this is how Jacob and family lived. I enjoyed this piece of fiction very much. It stayed with me for weeks and weeks after reading it.
Rating:
Summary: A Well Written Story Portrayal Of Biblicial Women
Review: The Red Tent is a nicely written portrayal of the strong and wise women in biblicial times. A wonderful job by this talented writer.
Rating: 
Summary: A Women's History
Review: Often times we forget that it is the women that carry the history of the family. In today's time, filled with busy lives and families living thousands of miles apart, it is easy to lose the family history. But this book is an example of why history is so important and why we should make the time to just be with our sisters, mothers and aunts. The book takes a minor character from the Bible and tells her story. The Bible looks at the life of Dinah only as it is a catalyst for giving up the gods of old and converting to God and the bloodshed that the mixing of 2 familes has caused. But her life did not begin nor end in one moment. This is a very rich book filled with hopes and dreams. It shows us the men of the Bible in a less then flattering light, but also the tenderness that comes from being a husband and father. It is fiction, but I could believe that Dinah, daughter of 4 mothers could have the strength to live even after the horrific murder of her husband and his family. I purchased the book on a recommendation of my sister and thought it would be a light summer read, but it is much more and now our Book club has selected it for this months book. I highly recommend it to everyone.
Rating:
Summary: A very sensuous read
Review: I'll be frank: I don't know the Christian story of Joseph. So I have no idea how this does or does not relate to or fill in the blanks of that! Overall, this book is a fantastic read for women who enjoy reading historical fiction that, whether true or not, plays heavily on a sense of sisterhood, kinship and wonder about the female condition that is lost in our modern societies of today. I live in a workaday world where people barely touch one another... having friends and family who could retreat together for three days a month and lounge around, telling stories and massaging feet... sounds like heaven to me! Where do I sign up? Anyway, the book is richly written; the prose is very descriptive and sensuous. The first 2/3 of the book really draws one in, and immerses you in Dinah's life, feelings, experiences. I did find that somewhere after that point, something changed... whether the writer realized they could not finish the book in under a thousand pages using the same depth of detail, or whether it's a mechanism employed for a purpose that I just don't understand, the fast forwarding and sparse depictions that typify the last part of the book really left me cold; I didn't feel the book had a strong finish, at least not the one promised by the beginning. The beautiful, peaceful ending still left me crying like a baby, though.
Rating:
Summary: Learning from our past
Review: I loved this book because being raised in Catholic school I never learned about woman in those times. It made me feel great to learn that in those times woman were strong and wise, not that I ever had a doubt about that.
Rating:
Summary: Just the best read in months.
Review: Ms. Diamant left me wanting more. She is a gifted writer. My hope is that she will continue to give us more of the beautiful written word, which she provided in THE RED TENT. The best part of the story is the way in which Ms. Diamant enables Dinah to speak to the reader in the voices that are age appropriate for Dinah's circumstances. It is a rich, instructive and rewarding story.
Rating: 
Summary: Poorly Researched
Review: This book does not qualify as historical fiction; the author's research for this soap opera is practically non-existant. Ex: Dinah was not the only daughter of Jacob, Rebekah was not a witch, and the Valley of the Kings did not exist at the time of the Patriarchs. Her portrayal of Isaac, Jacob and Joseph as ignorant weaklings is offensive to Jew and Gentile. If popular Jewish taste in pseudo-midrash is as lacking in truth and respect for their own patriarchs as this author indicates, it's no wonder that they as a people have suffered diaspora for 4 millenia.
Rating:
Summary: Pleasantly suprised!
Review: When a friend gave me this book to read and I saw the glowing reviews from all the christians on the back cover, I thought, why would someone who knows me, think I'd enjoy such fiction? I see now, she had given it to me as a read that would inspire me spiritually. Whatever your faith, I think this is a worthwhile read. I can see why some believers may take offense at Dinah's characterizations, but remember, it is fiction! I see the bible as enlightening fiction as well, so I feel no hostility by reading a bit more with a feminist slant. It made me remember both the insignificance and the importance of my existance in the world anew. Yes, indeed, thought provoking and inspiring!
Rating:
Summary: a new telling of an old story......
Review: Evoking a marvelous sense of destiny and magic,Dinah's story is told in a fresh and new way, breathes a marvelous way of life in the time of the patriarchs, and a sympathy for all women,bound by love and traditions,definately eye opening!
Rating:
Summary: Reading "The Red Tent"
Review: As an American who has lived abroad for the last 7 years, I relish the few days each year I spend with childhood friends at our beach place in Massachusetts. Through the long summer afternoons, we discuss all the books we have read since the last time we have been together. The Red Tent was strongly recommended to me this past July and now I worry about what my friends think I like to read. The author of the Red Tent has taken an excellent idea, and probably has done research of a decent quality, and managed to turn out a book of remarkable pap-like quality. This is a good story exceptionally badly told. Save your pennies.
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