Rating: 
Summary: An Excellent Read!
Review: I read it, and then immediately re-read it. This book is a fascinating look at ancient history, and at the history of women in particular. Diamant's Dinah and her mothers/aunts let the men follow the patriarchal God of Jacob and Isaac, yet kept the ancient matriarchal views of the Earth Mother alive in the red tent, where the women of all walks of life, retired every new moon and for births.A highly recommended book for anyone interested in philosophy, history and new perspectives on biblical stories.
Rating: 
Summary: One Great Idea, One Superficial Follow-through
Review: I almost didn't continue reading this book past the Prologue, which I hated from practically the first word. If the first chapter hadn't engaged me a little bit more (enraged me a little less), I would not have bothered to read this book. Having once begun, for all its flaws, I felt compelled to finish--but only because that's the kind of reader I am, not because I found anything compelling in the writing or story. Simpering and superficial, The Red Tent is of passing interest only for some of the cultural/historical information found within. Much of the cultural information is cursory, though. And often the text raised questions of knowledge and authenticity. The story as story is also plagued with problems of knowledge and authenticity. A first person narrative, the reader is supposed to believe that some of Dinah's non-first-person stories have been relayed to her by others, I guess, but the novel fails to generate any true sense of belief in that regard. Time and again, I found myself not thinking about the story but about how ridiculous that Dinah should be relating something she could not possibly have known. This is the result of clumsy writing. The central, violent action comes as something of a shock after half-a-book of saccharine writing, and is the source of what could be a powerful conflict (certainly it determines Dinah's subsequent life), but the prose never rises to the level of drama, certainly not to the level of tragedy, and Dinah is ultimately a character bereft of understanding or believability. What little Diamant accomplishes by way of making Dinah an interesting character is completely undone by the ending of the novel, artificial and unaccountable. I gave this book 2 stars because: (a) Diamont can write in complete grammatical sentences, and (b) it isn't easy to write a 300+ page story of any kind.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: I found this book to be a refreshing change of prespective. I enjoyed what Jacob's wives and daughter would have to say if they had had the chance. It is a wonderfully written memoir of an often- misunderstood Biblical character. I highly recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I could only read 40 pages of this book. It started out to be interesting, yet the vivid description of sexual encounters left me feeling disheartened and dirty. Why do authors feel that such elaboration is necessary? I am a Christian and love the Bible. I felt that I was reading a vile, slanderous report about people I believe lived and I hope to meet in Heaven one day. The author takes great liberties with the Biblical account. Liberties that I find disgusting. The Lord orchestrated the facts in a far more interesting manner than is portrayed in 'The Red Tent'. I could not continue reading this book and then say 'the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob' without blushing. I hope the best for the author but it is best not to even start this book.
Rating:
Summary: A BRILLIANT FEAT!
Review: This is the best contemporary novel I have read! As an Ivy League college student I read many, many books every year. Most of them are revered by the literary community, but The Red Tent towers above even these. I recomed it to anyone and everyone! A true masterpiece!
Rating: 
Summary: Hard to get through.
Review: The 1st 200 out of 300 pages were so hard to get through. It was mostly about their everyday life. I told myself when I was 1/2 way through the book if the next 50 pages dont get any better I was going to lay it down. It did get much better. But the book could have been written in 150 pages.
Rating:
Summary: A fully satisfying, captivating novel
Review: The Red Tent, like Girl With A Pearl Earring, is an example of historical fiction that the reader wishes really were true. In my mind, the story of Dinah and her mothers (Jacob's wives) is how it really happened. Anita Diamant lovingly unwraps the lives of generations of Biblical women in a way that reaffirms the fundamental truths of womanhood. Community, suffering, loving, childrearing - all are painted accurately and beautifully in this book. Don't be fooled into thinking this story is from a solidly Jewish or Christian perspective. While the story's roots are from the Old Testament, Dinah's chidhood is filled with mystical beliefs and only a vague understanding of her father's God. As an older woman, she lives in Egypt and that's the end of Biblical lore as we know it. I would love to hear a male perspective of this book. I would be hard-pressed to recommend it to a man, simply because the story depends so much on the reader's intimate understanding of femininity.
Rating:
Summary: I want a red tent!
Review: Not only is this a great read, it also makes you think. And what more can you ask? As a rushed society, many of us have forgotten about where we come from and who we are. Women especially don't realize that our bodies are amazing vessels, and that we need to learn to cherish them, take care of them, and each month climb into our own "red tents" and reflect. I recommend this book highly, and my own dog-eared copy has been shared with all of my loved ones.
Rating:
Summary: This one was a struggle to get through.
Review: Most people I encounter who have read this book absolutely loved it. But for some reason it was a struggle for me to get through. This is perhaps because the writing is inconsistent. At times there is great detail which seems to drag and I found I was anxious for the story line to move on. I believe the fascination with this book is the fact that we know almost nothing about the everyday lives of women in Biblical times. In that respect, the author shows great imagination and is to be commended. However, if you are a writer, or even a fan of great writers, this book will disappoint you.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful And Meaningful
Review: This was a fascinating tale of Dinah, daughter of Leah and Jacob and her other "mothers". Since she was the only daughter she was adored by the women. Her "Aunties" who were also Jacob's other wifes. She was also given the responsability of remembering the women's lives and the importance of women in Jewish society. I'm sure there was research done by Ms. Diamant not only to bring her characters to life but accuracy to make this story meaningful to the reader. It made me realize how we are becoming a people in this country without rituals and everyday civilities that make life rewarding. We are losing what makes life worth living: our interconnectedness with each other and the universe. I have heard complaints that this didn't really happen. No, of course not, this is a novel. Bibical literalists will not enjoy this narrative.
| 
