Rating: 
Summary: One of the best books I've read in a long time.
Review: I just finished "The Red Tent" by Anita Diamant yesterday, and I have to at the least say that it was perhaps one of the greatist novels of its genre, I've ever read! You can feel for the characters, even if you are riligous or not, you'll be sure to enjoy this novel a lot. The only bad ratings for this novel I've seen claim that the story is not ture at times, and is not right according to the bible. Well, all I say to their reviews is to read the fine print in the back of the novel which clearly states that this is a FICTION novel, and if some people think its not, they're just lying to themselves because it is clearly FICTION!!!! The Red Tent is told in first person by the main character DIHNAH, it is skillfully told inh a way that keeps you reading and pains to stop even for a bathroom break. I must admit though, that some scenes weren't neccesary, particularly those with sex/childbith ect, but with those scenes this book still deserves the five stars I'm giving it, because you feel for all the characters, and your actually heartbroken when they die! Dihnah is an incredible woman in this book, and one of the greatest, if not the best character you could ask for!!! The Red Tent starts off in the biggining, before Dihnah was born telling you about the mother's of Dinah's lives. Rachel, Leah, Ziplah, and Bilhah are them all. Leah is the mother whom she was given bith from, the others are just aunts (sisters of leah) who also take part in raising her. All of the mothers are married to a man named Jacob, which is their cousin, but you must understand that in the times in which this book was written incest wasn't looked down upon as it is today. We are introduced to all of the mothers in the first pard and Jacob, Jacob appears in the biggining to be a loving husband, and he treats his wives, according to the times, with respect and better than most men would. In the biggining we see for the most part the mothers struggles through sex, and childbirth. All of the mothers have many sons, but none have daughters (until dinah) because of miscarriges, or other reason, until Leah finally has the first, and only daughter of Jacob. When dinah is born, all of the mothers treat her as their favorite, because she is the only daughter. The story of how she piked her name is 'cute' so I'll leave you to read that. Throughout Dinah's childhood Jacob is the only brother that really pats attention to her a lot and communicates with her. a While later ('m skipping a lot of action, for I do not have much time to write a huge summary) When Dinah enters womanhood she falls in love with a man named Shalem. Shalem, and she get married together and enjoy their lives for a while with love, until one day Jacob decides he is not conforted with the thought of his daughter marreing a man who is the son of the king of a city which he dosn't like very much. He demands that they give him gifts, and be circumsized, in order to be able to marry his daughter. Shalem, and his father obey Jacob's orders because Shalem loves Dinah with a passion that no one could understand, but even though they gave Jacob what he wanted, One day Dinah found herself covered in blood, the blood was not hers, but someone else's. I'm going to stop this summary here, because I hate to give away whole stories just in the summary's. if the summary seems interesting to you, then by all means go pick up this novel..you will enjoy it, because there is much more action, and adventure to come, but if it seems boring to you then I urge you to stay away from this novel because I do not think you will enjoy it. All that I can tell you is that I enjoyed it very much, and would reccomend it to most people, though it really deserves a four and a half star rating, because there were some drawn-out scenes, but that option is not available!--Oskar Vidaurre
Rating:
Summary: Iluminate the Text
Review: I found that this delicious novel was infinitely more meaningful, when read along with Listen to Her Voice, Women of the Hebrew Bible by Miki Raver.
Rating: 
Summary: I Am Woman! (BC Style)
Review: Diamant's "Red Tent" is a piece a well-crafted historical fiction based upon the Biblical tale of the only surviving daughter of Exodus' most fertile patriach and polygamist, Jacob. The story of Dinah is little more than a footnote in the Good Book, but here Diamant has fleshed out Dinah's story and the stories of her four mothers Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, and Bilhah as well as her many brothers including Jospeh (of Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat fame). The author has given real faces and believable family conflicts to a well-known Old Testament story. This story spans Dinah's life from before she was born to her death and richly details the mystical powers of womanhood. Dinah travels through the Holy Land, to Egypt, becomes a wife, mother, midwife, daughter, widow, and healer. . Those of you who enjoyed the "Mists of Avalon" will like the similar epic quailty and message of the book.
Rating:
Summary: Imaginative, Lyrical & Compelling Journey Back in Time!
Review: This is a story of Dinah, a little-mentioned person in the book of Genesis in the Bible, contained in the passage that outlines the lineages of Jacob and his 12 sons. The author has detailed and filled in the pieces around Dinah's life beginning with her mothers and then as a midwife, wife, and mother herself.
Set in a Shepherd's camp and then in Egypt, this author has pulled out all the stops of her imagination and taken her readers back in time to a man's world where many wives were the norm, many children were sired, many less children were born, and many women died giving them life. This novel was written from a woman's perspective about this particular world, and it lushly illustrates the events, interactions, and emotions surrounding the ebbs and flows of life. Dinah's early experiences revolve around five "mothers," the one who gave her life and the other four who were married to her father. These women and their younger offspring all spent time in the Red Tent, where the cycles of a woman's life were experienced in all their richness.
The Red Tent is in the genre of The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley, which is high praise indeed, for that is an exquisite book. The Red Tent is wonderfully written and masterfully crafted, and it is a magnificent work. It illustrates with passion the important events in life -- coming of age, courtship, marriage, and of course the birth and the giving and sustaining of life -- from a female's viewpoint during the time in which it was set. Men ruled the world then, as they do now, and it gives one pause to ponder a woman's role, and a woman's treatment, in a man's world. The givers of life add so much incredible richness and joy to life itself -- the grand miracle of giving birth, sustaining life, nurturing, the special gifts of appreciating beauty and creating beauty in the world with their presence and their energies. It was an incredible experience reading this novel, going where it directed, feeling the events it detailed, and considering the unique fortitude it took to survive and thrive in that world.
Rating:
Summary: Unforgettable
Review: I loved this book so much that even now, three books later, I find myself still thinking about Dinah, and missing her so. Like a good film, this novel is so rich and real that I found myself lost in the world of Genesis. Loved it, loved it, loved it........and wished it never ended. Read it immediately.
Rating:
Summary: Hear me roar!
Review: Yes, that's right an I am woman kind of book...that I really liked! Get it and stick with it, you'll like it. You will appeciate the finer things in your life...like a sterile ennviroment in which to give birth! And a husband that that doesn't have children with your sister!
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting, different, and worth reading!
Review: The Red Tent is a story told through the eyes of Dinah, a woman who lived during Old Testament times. Many readers think this book is based on a story in the Bible, but it is actually about 1% truth and 99% imagination. The premise of this story is that Dinah, a daughter of Jacob, is telling the reader about her life as she is remembering it many years after it occurred. Jacob had four wives, and thus Dinah had four mothers. Dinah spent much of her childhood observing the four very different feminine characteristics of her mothers, listening to their stories, and learning their traditions. The lives of these ancient women revolved around childbearing and child-rearing. Childbirth defined their triumphs, their tragedies, and their sense of self-worth. The story tells us about the relationships between women of the time and the bonds they formed. When Dinah transitions from girlhood to womanhood, the women of her life celebrated with her, and Dinah eagerly anticipated the new phase that this transition was to bring to her life. However, early in this new phase of Dinah's life, a great tragedy occurs that alters her forever. A traumatic series of events caused Dinah to leave her family and her land for a new life and a new culture. Despite the time and distance that separatd her from the people of her past, Dinah continued to be influenced by the women of her childhood. In everything Dinah did, she carried part of her mothers with her. Many people who have read this book have expressed dismay that the story contradicts the Bible. Personally, I don't understand why anyone would expect the story to agree with the Bible? This fictional story is told through the eyes of an imperfect human being looking back on her life, while the Bible is the truth given breath by the perfect God. I think maybe the whole point of this story is that when a human being looks back on her life, she may see things very differently from the actual truth. In truth, Dinah was raped by Hamor's son. But isn't is plausible that the trauma of his murder caused Dinah, later in life, to perceive they had a great love affair? The truth is that Jacob was, in spite of his mistakes, a good and faithful man of God. But isn't is a possibility that his only daughter never knew him or loved him and saw him as a weak man? The truth is that Dinah's brother Joseph was intelligent and of high moral character; he never slept with Potiphar's wife despite her attempts at seduction. But isn't it likely that false rumors, like those told by Shery in The Red Tent, were spread about Joseph? And isn't it probable that some of the Egyptians grumbled that Joseph was stupid and arrogant, and belittled his talents? The truth is that Jacob did not love Leah. But isn't it believable that Leah could have distorted stories she told to Dinah to make Dinah believe Jacob did love her? I found this book to be a great break away from modern-day stories. I thought it was interesting and intriguing. The reason I give it 3 stars instead of a solid 4 is because I feel that the story would have been much better if Dinah had accepted the one true God, as her father Jacob did. I could have become more attached to the character of Dinah if she had embraced God and sought prayer in her times of need. Still, this book is worth reading... as long as the reader understands the difference between fiction and truth!
Rating:
Summary: great!
Review: wonderful read, i do not have any sisters so i can feel her want,but her female influence is something i wish i had growing up.
Rating:
Summary: Worth the Journey...
Review: Not only did Jacob's family become real to me, I felt privileged to travel beside Dinah as she wove human element into biblical characters! Excellent read!
Rating:
Summary: This is a phenomenal story!
Review: Ms. Diamant has done a remarkable job in telling Dinah's story, a little known character from the early books of The Bible. She introduces us to another time, and a far away place. This book is especially interesting for those of us not so familiar with The Bible and it's story tellers. I was riveted throughout the book. The women and men in this story have their jealousies; fears; joys and sorrows, just like you and I. Diamant's ability to put you right there in the Red Tent along with the women of Jacob is an amazing feat. The stories they tell and the companionship they share makes for wonderful reading. Listen carefully, mind that you don't wander off into the dust. Dinah, the one with the musical name, has a grand story to tell. Enjoy every moment of it.
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