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Summary: Women of any denomination will love this book!
Review: Anita Diamant's fiction tale of Dinah, sole daughter of Jacob is so empowering to women. I found myself never putting it down, I finished it in several days. I am not of the Christian denomination, but the way in which she portrays the strength and comaraderie of women and the ancient rituals of celebrating one's woman-ness, made me want to raise my daughter with a sense of female pride that I never had. As Dinah and her large family of Jacobites wander the desert in search of camp and spirit and independence from her unsavory grandfather, she and her four mothers weave spiritual beauty out of their mundane and dusty daily lives. I highly recommend that every woman read this and get reacquainted with the ancient female role as wife, mother, daughter and midwife and discover the enchanting escape in this wonderfully spun tale. It is very easy to read and follow. Thank to Ms. Diamant for being brave and branching outside of her normal scope of writing to bring this piece of joy to my library!
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Summary: Women Loving Women
Review: Most of today's women do not gather together once a month to sing songs, to massage each other's feet, or to tell stories, yet I think most of us long for that. Even those of us blessed with fulfilling marriages to men ache for a sisterhood. Anita Diamant has given us a piece of a family most of us will never have. I do not know how historically accurate this book is, though from the reviews, I gather it is not biblically accurate. For those of us who are not history buffs or attached to the bible, the accuracy is unimportant. What matters is the love between the women. Like any piece of art, the emotions are enriched beyond what most of us feel day to day. Reading about walking for weeks through the desert with your family and a herd of sheep is far more thrilling than actually doing it. That's the nature of books. Yet we still long for the emotions as they are portrayed in narrative. After reading this book, a friend called me distraught. For forty-five minutes I listened to her and helped her develop a plan. Near the end of the call, I made a joke and she laughed with relief. At that moment I realized I do have a sisterhood just like the women of The Red Tent did. They had tents and straw. I have coffee houses, cell phones, and email. Frankly, I bet that on most cold nights most of the characters in this book would have traded their sheep for my thermostat. The friend who lent me her book asked each woman who read her copy to sign the inside cover. Signing my name was my initiation into a modern day sisterhood. Not only was this book a fun read, it also helped me realize that the stories we tell each other as we put food into the microwave are as special as the stories told over a cooking fire.
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Summary: Beautiful!
Review: What a beautiful story. I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed it. If you liked Memoirs of a Geisha, then you will certainly enjoy this book.
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Summary: Awesome, superb, an epic every women should read
Review: The Red Tent opened my eyes to the women of the past - whether you are a religious person or not, this story holds true of a women's endeavour in life against all odds. It is hearbreaking, heartwrenching and heartwarming all in one - a truly wonderful story which should be read and remembered by women of all ages and beliefs. I found it to be a superb lesson in the suffering of womanhood throughout time with one who suffered but remained strong - Dinah is one with who we can all connect and admire even though her life is far, far removed from ours at present.
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Summary: Traditions and Women
Review: This book encouraged me to explore my own ties to the women who have come before me. What it means to be woman. The rituals that tie us together. I do not often read "religious" writing because I find as a woman I am not represented, but this book is a gift. No matter your background or beliefs this book is well written, provokes thought, and had the power to connect me to women everywhere.
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Summary: This is my favorite book
Review: My mother recomended this book, and I can read it again and again with out getting bored. In most books I have to skip through the boring parts, but in this... I've read it three, four times and I've loved it each time.
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Summary: Amazing Journey Into History
Review: When I started the book, I thought it might be a lot of history with confusing character names to remember. Once I was two to three pages into the story, I couldn't put it down. One of the best books I've ever read. After I finished, I picked up the Bible and was amazed that some events were spoken about. A truly talented author to shed light on the shadows of such a well known story - completely believable.
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Summary: Wow!
Review: The only thing that I can say about this book, is WOW! This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. When I initially read what it was about I was a bit tentative about it, thinking that it would be a bit more 'religious' than I wanted to read. Now having read it I think it to be a brilliant story! Anita Diamant is a wonderful writer and this book kept me wanting more, as a matter of fact I was sad when it ended! I highly recommend this book!
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Summary: I immediately recommended this to others...
Review: I originally learned of this book through a short interview with Julia Roberts in the Oprah "O" magazine. My sister has repeatedly encouraged me to read the "Three from Galilee" trilogy, but I haven't yet succumbed; religious storylines haven't grabbed my attention-yet. Although a fictionalized account of Dinah's life, the historical references and language give this novel authenticity. "The Red Tent" is a warm, inviting read with plenty of suspense, symbolism and historical reference. The author's storytelling invites the reader into Dinah's life and reiterates the importance of sharing stories with younger generations. Pay close attention to the Prologue (especially the speaker's dialect and message) and the conclusion of the novel. Once finished, I reread both and they brought me to tears.You'll enjoy this book if historical family and marital dynamics and life/religious customs are of interest. My sister is now reading "The Red Tent" due to my recommendation. I'll be curious to learn whether she still recommends the Galilee trilogy once she's finished with Diamant's novel.
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Summary: A Tale of Strong Women
Review: This book was a wonderful journey! It was empowering and showed women in a strong and realistic light. I applaude Ms. Diamant in her first novel. Her character development created an envirnoment in which the reader felt a part of this story. It is important to remember that this is just that, a story. You will not get a mere retelling of the corresponding Biblical story by a woman (Dinah), and if that is what you are looking for (as was karinsb), you will probably not like this book. If, however, you want to read an emotionally charged account of what it might have been like to live as a woman in those times, this is a treasure!
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