Rating: 
Summary: Radical Departure from the Biblical Text
Review: When the author writes that her story is a readical departure from the Biblically text - she claims it is because she tells and unknown part of the story -- fleshes it out for us -- and that she tells it from a woman's perspective. It truly is a radically departure -- but that is mostly because she plays very fast and loose with the Biblical account. She doesn't just fill in missing details -- she changes whole facts. The God of the Bible gets very few mentions at all - and nearly all of them derogatory. If you're into idolatry and pagan religions -- and you like to see the God of the Bible mocked and made fun of -- then this might be your kind of book. As for me and my household -- we will serve the Lord.
Rating: 
Summary: Accurate presentation of Canaanite and early Hebrew Culture
Review: The Red Tent will prove shocking for some readers unfamiliar with the values of ancient nomadic life in Mesopotamia and Canaan. It is, however, an amazingly clear and compelling picture of that lifestyle. Diamant writes with keen understanding of historical research relative to the period presented in the biblical stories of the family of Jacob, Rachel, and Leah, retelling and expanding those stories from the perspective of Dinah, the daughter of Jacob and Leah.She does not attempt to stay faithful to every detail of the biblical stories. Jacob works for 14 months for the right to marry Leah and Rachel, rather than the 14 years in the biblical story, for example, but Diamant creates a narrative world that places the biblical stories accurately in the cultural context that they assume. She presents a realistic picture of the complex religious realities of the time, in which Jacob's worship of only one deity surely seemed odd to his neighbors. The book contains some very violent scenes and plenty of explicit discussion of childbirth and sex. Its portrayal of these aspects of ancient nomadic life, though, is surely accurate. I highly recommend the book for anyone wishing to better understand the cultural context of the biblical stories of Israel's ancestors. The first two thirds of the book are set in northern Mesopotamia and in Canaan while the last section is set in Egypt. The material on Egypt, while well informed, is not as compellingly narrated as the earlier sections. I found the last chapter unconvincing, but perhaps that's a matter of personal taste. I'll let you decide.
Rating:
Summary: The Red Tent is a winner!
Review: When I first picked up the novel "The Red Tent" by Anita Diamant, I was hesitant: Could I be interested in a book about the bible? The answer: Yes. This book was so beautifully written.
The story of Dinah is compelling in nature and truly brings a new view to what the bible may have left out or a theory about the lives of women during that time era. I don't think that it is anti-male at all, and anyone who is looking to correct biblical "facts" should not read this novel.
It is a book that stays with you. People who are in the online group book club that I'm in loved it and feel moved by it like I do. It is not a book of facts. It is a book for people with imagination, a heart, and an open soul.
Rating:
Summary: The Red Tent Beware Full of Bible untruths
Review: I was extremely dissapointed with this book. It could have been great except for the unbeleivable amounts of untruths and downright lies concerning Biblical truth. They were totally unneccessary. The author took it upon herself to rewrite scripture. Very dangerous! The book could have been plenty interesting without them. Dont believe everything she writes as gospel because it is NOT. Also there are some very gruesome chapters that if true would be history but instead are only fictional. Too many people unknowingly think this book is biblical fact when it isnt at all.
Rating: 
Summary: Gives us back our women ancestors
Review: The book is very well written. The story is engrossing from first page to last. Anita Diament gives us back the stories of our foremothers as we wish we had them. My objection to the book is that the Jewish foremothers do not acknowledge their Jewishness, referring to Abraham and Sarah by their pagan names of Abram and Sarai. They pray to other gods and goddesses, even Rebecca, Rachel and Leah, whom we name in Sabbath services every Friday and Saturday. But Diament did her homework, and the lives they lead, shepherding, brewing, the clothes they wore and the other chores they did in the camps are realistic. The differences between the work camps versus the lives of the Egyptian aristocrats were accurately defined. Even the beloved Joseph was portrayed as something of a power-mad pain in the butt. As for the ultimate concept of the women sticking together in the red tent, where no men were allowed, we can only speculate if Anita Diament is giving us a true vision or wishful thinking.
Rating:
Summary: The Red Tent
Review: This book was awsome. If you have ever studied the bible, then you truly do wonder what happened to Dinah. The story was wonderfully told and keeps you coming back for more. The story of her mothers was told in a way that should make every woman proud of who they are and where they came from. "If you want to understand any woman you must first ask about her mother and then listen carefully. Stories about food show a strong connection. Wistful silences demonstrate unfinished business. The more a daughter knows the details of her mother's life-without flinching or whining-the stronger the daughter." taken from the book, The Red Tent by Anita Diamant.
Mothers and daughters have a special bond and we never really know how special that bond is until it has been taken from us.
Read this book. Understand the female presence in your life.
Rating:
Summary: Breathtakingly Heartbreaking
Review: This book is rare. It is rare in that it is always uplifting while also being simultaniously heartbreaking. Rachel narrates the story of her family and her life from beginning to end. She weaves a story simply stated but beautifully relayed. Happiness and love are felt through the pages as is saddness and heatbreak. Although the story ends happily from the eyes of the character the reader is left feeling satisfied for her, but, at the same time sad still for her losses and injustices suffered. This is a beautifully written novel, a wonderful story, and a completely worthwhile read.
Rating:
Summary: A Convincing Historical Novel
Review: Carefully bringing the little known Biblical character of Dinah into a fictional novel, Anita Diamant has written a wonderfully convincing historical novel - The Red Tent. As the only daughter of Jacob, Dinah is surrounded by four mothers, Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, and Bilhah, all wives of Jacob, as she grows up among a community of women in Mesopotamia. Diamant artfully describes the culture of separated genders: the women exist to keep their men prosperous; the men work to provide for the community. These men appear to the women, however, as distant, mysterious characters. While our culture would see this kind of lifestyle as difficult and oppressive, Diamant describes their way of living as a vibrant culture of women, who are made complete by the sisterhood of the "red tent." They cherish everything that composes their feminine nature, relishing their monthly cycle as a celebration of strength and friendship. Images of Dinah's simple childhood - cooking, baking, weaving, storytelling and midwifery - are conveyed with vivid color. The ensuing tragedy of Dinah's "rape" and Jacob's tribe's reaction is filled with pain and remorse with which the reader easily empathizes. Diamant portrays a believable culture of the Old Testament era, but one must remember that the book is a work of fiction, structured by a framework of Biblical characters and events. Portions of the novel are shocking, including many descriptive accounts of giving birth. Let the reader be warned, Diamant also portrays the women in the novel as pagans, worshipping household spirits and gods, not as believers in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Unfortunately, the fantastic character development of the first half of the book was not duplicated in the second half as Dinah goes off to Egypt to begin a new life. Furthermore, the novel's tempo drastically speeds in the second half, as it becomes more of a chronicle of her life, lacking the rich detail portrayed in the first half. The novel left a deep impression on me with its vibrant stories, fascinating descriptions, and deep emotional passages describing life in the Biblical era. While reading I became fascinated with the high value that women gave to their place in society -- that they made life possible through the blessing of childbirth. It was inspirational to experience a culture where women were fulfilled by having children, a concept not frequently honored in our culture. The book also presents a refreshing look at female closeness to a culture where girl bonding often consists of shopping and devouring ice cream.
Rating:
Summary: Put it in the ROMANCE section PLEASE!
Review: OK I admit it! I was fooled by the jacket cover and the many positive reviews. I should have read the negative reviews here first. I have learned my lesson!
I was thinking I was buying a historical (biblical based) fiction. WRONG!
I probably shouldn't rate this as I am not a fan of romance novels; I am not putting down the genre, it is just not for me. But I do wish it would be appropriately placed in the bookshelves.
This novel is unabashedly a ROMANCE novel.
Rating:
Summary: If you are a strong Christian this is not the book for you
Review: I picked up this book expecting to read something that would enhance my faith and understanding of the Bible; however, I was offended by it. This book celebrates paganism and portrays bestiality as "normal" behavior. I also find it implausible that all women in those days menstruated at exactly the same time and it only lasted for 3 days - a real stretch, don't you think? It was quite a disappointment.
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