The Red Tent

Rating:
Summary: Best book I read all year
Review: Anita Diamant, man, I wish she was my aunt or something, because she is a superb story teller. Her book The Red Tent was completely well rounded. Yes, there were parts that were very anylitical and really dragged (her Journalist ways cutting through I suppose), but Dinah's character and the rich plot and setting really salvaged the book! Mrs. Diamant also had some killer analogies. I would recommend this book to any woman, I couldn't see a man reading this book and really feeling for it and enjoying it the way we women can. Its a cruel, but true generalization for this book. This makes me see Judaism and the stories from the bible and the book of Genesis in a whole new light! (considering the fact I never considered the stories, I never touched a bible until I read this book) No, don't get the wrong idea, this book doesn't brain wash you. It makes you enthused because your enlightened by a more in- depth femenist take on a bible story. If you liked Memoirs of a Geisha, you'll love this book. I only wish I could read more books like The Red Tent that took religious text and mythology and made it beleiveable and wonderful.

Rating:
Summary: Don't bother -
Review: Oh stop it. A pathetic book about a time when women were viewed as less than real people, and accommodated the male world to their own personal detriment. It was awful.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book
Review: I found this story fascinating. I grew up knowing the stories of the Bible and this was a whole new spin on it from a woman's perspective. A must read!

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful History for Women
Review: I just finished this book, and it was wonderful! However, I also feel a sense of loss. Loss of modern women's sense of community with other women, especially during childbirth. We have advanced technologically since the "primitive" biblical era of this novel. However, the relationships of the women and children described in The Red Tent are sadly lacking in our modern times. I wish that all of us as new mothers had the support system that these ancient women experienced.

Rating:
Summary: one of the best this year
Review: As historical fiction, The Red Tent has the potential of being offensive to some who do not wish to expand on the literal word of the Bible. The writing, however, is lyrical, and the story of a woman -- a minor character -- in Biblical times is addressed with great sensitivity. Having lived in that part of the world, I was able to see many aspects of modern Middle East culture reflected in the book, and this made the book far more believable for me. I savored this book, which is not something I do often. I would recommend it to anyone, man or woman, who would be willing to explore its topics with an open mind.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful History...Very Touching
Review: I loved the history that Anita Diamant shared throught The Red Tent. It gave me a wonderful sense of what the women encountered in their day to day lives and how important the relationships between the women were. It was very moving - I understand now why SO MANY people recommended that I read it.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: I recommend this book to friends by telling them that it reveals the essential nature of the true relationships between women. We are a certain way with each other today, and we were the same with each other over two thousand years ago. That is the real beauty of this book for me. I think Anita Diamant did a remarkable job in capturing the essence of life for women B.C. She made me contemplate what it would have been like to not only know the story of Abraham and Issac, but to know both men as family members. To have known Rebecca as a grandmother! My goodness. I am not a Biblical scholar, but she brought this era to life for me. In short, it's a wonderful book and I recommend it highly.

Rating:
Summary: good book club read
Review: This book is a fast read. It is not particularly remarkable in terms of its intellectual or philosophical content. It does, however, raise a number of interesting issues re: women's role in society, the bible/religion both in the past and currently and is likely to provoke good discussion/conversation among women-oriented book clubs. Good for the beach, too.

Rating:
Summary: Inspiring
Review: Every few years, women can find a novel that is both inspiring and grounding. The Red Tent is a moving story whose themes surrounding womanhood still hold true today. It reminds us of the priveledges of being a woman even in a man's world. I love Biblical stories and I want Anita to write another.

Rating:
Summary: Read this, treasure it, then read Ken Agori
Review: Men you may not be ready for this. Women you will love reading of DInah and a new role for women. Did it happen? We don't know. Just like we don't know if women had a role in the Knight Templars (defenders of the Holy Grail). If you enjoy women of power, read this book. You will also enjoy Defenders, as it has a Crusader heroine and a modern divorced heroine.