Rating: Summary: Loved it Review: I am a sophomore in high school, and my English class was given a choice of three outside reading books that related to our study of the Bible as in Literature. The Red Tent was one of them, and since The Forever King didn't appeal to me, and Death Be Not Proud seemed a little boring, I decided to go with The Red Tent, and I wasn't sorry.This book is on my top five favourites list. I thought it was good in the beginning, but I really got into it towards the end. It's very explicitly narrated, but I don't have a problem with that, and so I would warn anyone with a weak stomach or with an intolerance for sex. I also loved how Anita Diamant didn't try to convert her readers to Judaism or Christianity or whatever religion. I loved her prose; it is poetic and graceful; and as I read more I found I couldn't put the book down. Highly reccommended.
Rating: Summary: A Beautiful Story Review: I must have cried a hundred times while reading this book. I loved it! I really enjoyed Dinah speaking directly to the audience; I think that device underscored the assumption that this is a story for all women. The message that I got from the book was that we are all sisters, with the same hurts and joys, bound together by the things that make us women--childbirth, menses, love. Anita Diamant did not write this book, Dinah spoke through her.
Rating: Summary: The Red Tent is a Fabric Woven of Spun Gold Review: The Red Tent tells us what it meant to be a woman in the time of Genesis. The story is fascinating and a page turner from start to finish. Diamont only lets us down with the fact that the book does come to an end. Which, I must say, is the best ending to any book I've read. Thank you, Anita!
Rating: Summary: the ultimate love and tragedy book about women Review: Wow, this was a book that stayed with me. I thought Diamant's writing was amazing. You could tell she researched it. As you read, you really understood Dinah and what it was like to be a women in ancient biblical times. It takes you to a time in history that is different, but you don't want to leave it. As a previous reviewer said, it is probably a book for women. You either love the book, or hate it. But considering its a best seller, most people must love it. But no matter who you are, you learn what ancient womanhood was like in the biblical times. They experience love, hate, passion, death, and tragedy. There is also the theme of relationships between mothers and their children. I could not put this book down.
Rating: Summary: The Pearl Review: Girl With A Pearl Earring, by Tracy Chevalier, is the story of a maid, "Griet", and her work with the famous painter, Vermeer. Her duties as a maid do not include being an assistant to Vermeer, and Vermeer's art is not to supposed to be of a maid. But, the two interact despite the enormous class difference. Here we are brought into a painting which comes to life the minute the first page is read. The following pages paint a slow, yet careful and beautiful work of art that brings the 17th century to the reader's mind. A message that shows how both an artists' eyes and a young "wide-eyed maid" exchange pearls of wisdom. The story is as beautiful and solid and bright as a tightly strung pearl necklace. Images are deceiving, for white pearls may not be white after all, rather many colors mixed to create an illusion that satisfies an artists' -- and the readers' -- mind.
Rating: Summary: Yes, men should read this book, also! Review: I was told over and over by countless female friends that I should not read this book. Thank goodness I ignored them. True, they were not lying when they said this was a book about biblical women menstruating; but that trite summary fails to do justice to the beauty, energy, and depth of this remarkable novel. This is a book about relationships. It is about the relationships that form between women and the experiences that bond them together. It is about the relationship between women and their bodies, between women and the earth, between women and their men, between women and their gods. It is a book about the role of women as life-givers and as preservers of the cultural heritage of their people. The other summary commonly attributed to this novel is that it is how the Bible would have been had it been written by women. This is also misleading. While many of the characters are also found in the Bible, The Red Tent is very much an original work of fiction. Diamant remains true to the inspirational roots of her story while weaving an elaborate and original tapestry of her own. This book strongly reinforced my belief that good literature transcends gender stereotypes. As a whole, this book may appeal more to women than men, but any man who enjoys good literature will appreciate this fine work.
Rating: Summary: An exceptional book Review: This is the story of the women in the biblical characater Jacob's life as told by his only daughter Dinah. Told in the first person this book is exceptional and a good read even if you are not interested in the bible at all.
Rating: Summary: Compelling at first, and then disturbing! Review: I was drawn into this novel at first. I have a reader's, not a scholar's knowledge of the bible and it was compelling to see it from a women's perspective....at first! I am very curious why a woman of Jewish Faith would portray the fathers of her faith with so little grace or loyalty. Even the Mother's of her faith had no connection whatsoever with the God that blessed them. It was so curious to me why she chose these characters to write such a FICTIONAL tale. Yes, it had some historical significance to everyday life but, quite honestly, if Jacob were the man of Diamont's creation; Judaism and Christianity would not exist today. Except for the times he made love to his wives, he was weak and unappealing. The events of his communion with God were surprisingly included, but with little change to Jacob. Just days after he wrestles with the angel, he declares to his whole family that Sarai was visited by an Egyptian Goddess and given Isaac in her old age. This was the beginning of the end for me. I thought maybe Joseph's life might redeem the Hebrew men so I read on. But I was to be sorely disappointed. I finished the novel feeling very disturbed and very curious why people of Jewish Faith weren't up in arms about this novel. It's very dishonoring to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and of Leah and Rachel who I believe were much better women for knowing Jacob and his God Elohim. I hope those that read it realize that if this had any truth to it, Judaism would have passed away like the religions of Egypt that Diamont so favors in this book.
Rating: Summary: A great story about women Review: A fictional account of Dinah from the Bible, this story delves into the hardships of life for a woman from her birth to her death. It is a strong story that grips you and makes you care about Dinah and the people who surround her. It is absoloutely NOT "Bible-y" or preachy. This is just a wonderful fictional account of Dinah and her family and the role women play.
Rating: Summary: Highly recommended read Review: I share the opinion of all the other rave reviews but must add that as a student of feminine Bible study, this is a 'must read' from that aspect, for not many other texts can bring to life as "Red Tent" does the more detailed and personal lifestyle of Biblical women. You won't be able to put it down until finished reading. Really beautifully written.
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