Rating: 
Summary: Magical expansion of biblical story...
Review: Before reading The Red Tent, I knew very little about the Bible, aside from a few names and stories. The description and reviews that I'd read compelled me to give it a shot anyway, and I am incredibly glad that I did. The Red Tent is definitely one of the best - well-written, fascinating, creative, etc. - novels that I've read in the past few years.Little is mentioned in the Bible about Dinah, Jacob's only daughter - this much I know - and The Red Tent is a fictionalized account of her life from her own perspective. The result is magical, from Dinah's relationship with her own mother and her father's other wives, to her marriage, role as mother; all is depicted so realistically and lovingly that it is easy to get lost in the story. Dinah's life is not an easy one but Diamant so easily balances all that happens to her to prevent the book from becoming too maudlin or tragic - somehow, Dinah transcends it all. In addition to this wonderful female character, Diamant has recreated the vibrant environment and times in which she exists - obviously, a great deal of research went into this book and the details provide a sense of what life could have been like lo those many years ago. Diamant incorporates all of the information she gathered in such a way that it complements the story naturally without seeming forced or without too much emphasis placed on the historical context, as can sometimes be the case. As I read this book on the subway to and from work, many women approached me to let me know how much they had loved the book and how much it meant to them, something that has never happened before. As I got deeper into the book and became more entranced I began to understand its power. This simply is not a book to be missed. It provides a window into the lives of women in biblical times and into the soul of one courageous, gentle woman. I cannot recommend it more highly and hope that this book will continue to find the audience it deserves.
Rating: 
Summary: Boring and Bland
Review: The Red Tent lacks many things that would make it a good book. One of the most important is some sense of purpose. The story is long and, apart from a few incidents, incredibly boring. There are only so many ways any writer can describe labour and childbirth. The main character is colourless and bland. She has momentary flashes of personality but in general I did not care what happened to her. Her aunts are far better developed and although interest in them ends abruptly they hold the first half of the book together. The second half of the book is a convoluted plot to get Dinah to the right place and time to reunit with her once beloved Joseph. By the end of the book I had no interest in any of the characters and was annoyed with the insipidness of the book. As an attempt to flesh out the role of women in the Old Testament the book is a partial success. As a work of literature it falls far short of being a well written and a work of merit.
Rating:
Summary: An important, thought-provoking book
Review: I resisted this novel for a long time--a fictional account of a minor player of the Bible? Sounded deadly dull to me. But after many recommendations, I picked it up, and was pleasantly--incredibly--surprised. This is one of the best books I've read this year. I took a class on women in the Bible in college, and I only wish this book had been a part of it. The Red Tent reminds you that the "characters" in the Bible were human--they were real people, with real dreams, real desires, and yes, real bodily functions. Dinah's story is not a happy one, yet it is inspiring to see how she gathered the fortitude and courage to continue with her life in the face of unspeakable tragedy. It is a profoundly anti-Christian/anti-Judaism book, but it's time people wake up and realize this is what it was like. Christianity has not been around forever, and this shows what like was like before the birth of Christ. The writing is wonderful, clear, and evocative, and reading this novel is time well spent.
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Summary: Enjoyable biblical history
Review: A friend of mine suggested I read this book, since I enjoy reading about the lives of other women (real & fiction). I couldn't put it down. Three days later, I was disappointed that it ended. I'm sure there are people who will find this book disgusting and blasphemous at times, but I believe that there are real human beings behind the ones we read about in the Bible. How can we not believe that during the Old Testament times people didn't have the same problems, tendencies, and relationships found today. Dinah's story brought biblical times to life. I enjoyed reading about the tedium and excitement of her days. Women would find this book more enjoyable than men. Open-minded readers will find it hard to put down. Conservative spiritualists will most likely be angered. This book isn't for everyone, but I really liked it myself.
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Summary: Not Biblically correct
Review: This author attempts at deving into the Biblical story of Jacob, Leah and Rachel. The Author has Laban as an old bumbling inhospitable person BUT the Bible tells us in Gen 29:18 "he (Laban) ran to meet him (Jacob)". The author also says that Leah had eyes two different colors, the Bible says "she was tender-eyed" in Gen. 29:17. In the author's version Jacob only worked 7 months for Rachel and then Rachel convinced Leah to go first because she was afraid. Wrong! Jacob worked 7 years for Rachel and because Leah was the older, Laban her father, made a switch and gave Leah first to Jacob and he was NOT happy. He then worked 7 more years for Rachel. The account of this real story is in Genesis 29. This book is not appealing to me, because I know the Bible story, but unfortunately those who do not will believe this is the truth.
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Summary: A Glimpse into the Women's Tent
Review: When I first read the cover review, I thought that the book would offer more depth into the biblical story of Dinah. I got what I expected and more. If the author is correct in her assessment of the wives of the biblical patriarch, life for women during the times was very different and very secretive from that of men. Very poignant, brought tears to my eyes again and again.
Rating: 
Summary: The Bible meets Martha Ballard
Review: I started THE RED TENT a few months ago and really couldn't get into it. When I found that my local library was going to have a discussion of it and after several friends raved about the book I gave it another try. It does take a little to get into it but after that I enjoyed it. As I turned the pages of THE RED TENT all of a sudden I felt that Martha Ballard, the midwife made famous by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich in MIDWIFE'S TALE was coming out of the pages. Now this is not to say that Diamant plagerized someone else's story. However, I would be willing to bet that Diamant studied Ulrich's work. Both Dinah and Martha were midwives. Both books show the importance of midwives in their respective cultures. Both books how how women contributed to the economy of thier families through their weaving and other tasks. Both books show how women bonded together during the birthing process, although Diamant shows that there was a bonding during the three days in the red tent each month. In both books you can see that there was not place for single women in the society. In Martha Ballard's life there is the story of a rape. Although the woman is raped, her husband is the "victim" becuase his rights have been violated. Much the same happens with Dinah. However, I didn't think that the author made it clear when Dinah's brothers killed her husband. At first I thought that I was the only one that missed that point but several other people had the same problem. I was also confused as to how all of the women had their periods at the same time, however, I'm told that that happens when women live together - it's news to me. However, a footnote or a forward by the author about that and other historical points in the book would have helped. Also, someone in my book club mentioned that a map would have also helped. All in all, it was a good read. It gives a depiction of women in bibical times that has not previously been shown.
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Summary: A wonderfully woven tapestry...
Review: Ok, I know this sounds a little corny, but I must say that this book really is like a tapestry. The female characters are so multi faceted and realistic that I became immediatly engrossed in the story and found that I had a very difficult time putting it down. However, I would really not reccomend this book to a man simply because I feel that it is more geared toward women; I don't think men would be able to relate to Dinah in a way that would help them feel the story. I'm not a religious woman, so I actually debated whether or not I wanted to read this novel because I was afraid that it would be too religious for my taste. I am VERY glad that I decided to read it as it was wonderful. The book does mention religion, but it isn't crammed down your throat as I feared. A wonderful read!
Rating: 
Summary: cheesy
Review: Take away the historical background and what have you got? A cheesy "chick" novel, not particularly well written. But at least the biblical connection -- gimmicky as it is -- gives the story a more interesting dimension.
Rating:
Summary: The Red Tent
Review: This is a fabulous book. So much so, you do not want it to end. It puts you right alongside Dinah throughout the events in her life. It enlightens you to the way of life in the biblical days.You feel like you are there.I have recommended it to all my friends! Thank you Ms Diamant for such an entrancing story!
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