The Red Tent

Rating:
Summary: Fabulous
Review: This was one of the best books that I have ever read! I was deeply touched by the story of Dinah and her relationships to her family and friends. It is simply written and wonderfully captivating. You will need a box of tissue toward the end.

Rating:
Summary: Entretaining and touching
Review: Diamant did a great job researching the life of women in biblical times and presenting it to us in this novel. In spite of the time and place being so far away from our contemporary existence, the human condition and in this case, the sense and concerns of women are the same now as they were then. I enjoyed this book very much, had a hard time putting it down and I imagine all women who've had children, who've left their parents country and/or who have strong relationships with other women will enjoy this tale. I will never think of Jacob the same way. Too bad there were no women writters in biblical times, we would have had much richer and detail stories of those times, such as The Red Tent. Bravo for Diamant. Waiting for your next book.

Rating:
Summary: Couldn't Put It Down!
Review: The only way to describe this book is awesome. I almost started rereading this book as soon as I finished it; I didn't want it to end. It is a retelling of the Biblical story of Jacob from the perspective of the women, most notably his daughter. This book gives a real insight into what women's lives may have been like at this time, something that is overlooked in most sources. This story remains true to the Biblical narrative, but with a slightly different interpretation of the events that shaped one young woman's life. I cried through the last pages of this toucing story, and have recommend it to most of my friends.

Rating:
Summary: Thank You
Review: This book brought me back to my Judaism. Thank you Anita Diamant. I read this book three times and sobbed each time. It is truly amazing.

Rating:
Summary: Red Tent
Review: This book was a wonderful interpretation of the Bible Story of Jacob and his family. Anita Diamant reads between the lines of some of the questionable bible stories, and fills in what others may have suspected. It is a modern interpretation of bibical stories, which I suspect is exactly the way that the bible was interpreted throughout the ages. We will never know the truth about what really happened, but this view seems much more likely than the one we are led to believe in the Bible. It's hard to believe that the Bible in its present form is the divine word of God, with all the horendous crimes that were justified in it. Anita tells it the way we would assume the story of Dinah must have happened in her affair with Shalem at Shechem.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting plot but low on characterization
Review: I thought that the primary innovation of this book - telling the "inversion" of the story of the sons of Jacob by focusing on the role of the women left out of the Biblical account - was fascinating and well-done. However, Dinah and her four mothers were characterized only through the situations they found themselves in and their reactions to them. It reminded me of a newpaper account as opposed to a novel - I had hoped for more lavish characterization. I realize that this was an intentional style adopted by the author to echo the biblical account, however, it ended up being rather dry as a result. Disappointing only in so far as it failed to meet its potential. The basic premise of the book and execution of the plot were fabulous.

Rating:
Summary: An incredibly moving historical journey...
Review: This book just blew me away. I was very skeptical about the topic at first, but Diamant's writing sucks you into the story immediately. The bond between the women in this story is completely compelling and believable, and this book puts a fascinating spin on the relationships only hinted at in the Bible. Dinah is an incredible protagonist whose desire to love and be loved is at once her undoing and her salvation. Her survival is inspiring. The end of this book had me in tears. Beyond Biblical and beyond purely historical, this book is a moving testament of one family and the things that bind them together and tear them apart. A must read, in my opinion.

Rating:
Summary: The red tent
Review: It would appear that any book about interesting and perhaps unusual women generates much controversy among its readership ("Bitter Grounds" and "The Poisonwood Bible" come to mind). This book is no different. The Red Tent is loosely based on the Biblical story of Dinah, but it is a novel, not fact, even though it may be based in fact. Diamant even takes liberties with the Dinah story as it appears in Genesis in the Bible. However, it does appear to be thoroughly researched -- I found myself equally fascinated by descriptions of life during Biblical times as by the lives of the characters in the book. Unlike some of the other reviewers I didn't find this book to be anti-male. I and many women I know lead very different lives from our men and we too see them in a completely different light than they see themselves. We often laugh at them or paint them in an unflattering light, despite the fact that we love them. We are not, however, anti-male, just human and female. I suspect men amongst themselves discuss women in much the same way. I personally found this book full of thoughts and ideas that touched me deeply, especially since I am 40 years old, have had several children and have lived in foreign countries. Perhaps much younger people would have trouble identifiying some of the "human condition" scenarios in the book -- I don't know. Regardless, I have wholeheartedly recommended this book to several people and recommend it to you.

Rating:
Summary: The Red Tent
Review: Anita Diamant has written an incredible historical novel, filled with stories about women and their trials and tribulations during biblical times. She has done a tremendous job researching her material, while at the same time, keeping a fast-paced story within its confines. The characters are well developed and the story about Jacob and his family are facinating. Most especially endearing is Dinah and her birth, her life among women and her death. A must-read in my mind. I am very pleased that I own this book

Rating:
Summary: I was skeptical till I started reading
Review: Our book club picked this book, I don't usually read this sort of heavily, woman oriented book but I couldn't believe how beautiful it was. Definetly for women in their child-bearing/ rearing years. I wouldn't have identified and understood this the same way a few years ago. I will look forward to reading it again.