The Red Tent by Anita Diamant – 335 pages
Book Blurb:
Her name is Dinah. In the Bible, her life is only hinted at in a brief and violent detour within the more familiar chapters of the Book of Genesis that are about her father, Jacob, and his dozen sons. Told in Dinah’s voice, this novel reveals the traditions and turmoils of ancient womanhood–the world of the red tent. It begins with the story of her mothers–Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, and Bilhah–the four wives of Jacob. They love Dinah and give her gifts that sustain her through a hard-working youth, a calling to midwifery, and a new home in a foreign land. Dinah’s story reaches out from a remarkable period of early history and creates an intimate connection with the past. Deeply affecting, The Red Tent combines rich storytelling with a valuable achievement in modern fiction: a new view of biblical women’s society.
My Review: 5 stars
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I loved this book. I relished in its pages. Anita Diamant has come forward with a mix of historical and revisionist fiction. With only a single mention of Dinah in the Bible, the author has created her story and made it readable and believable. There is a lot of sisterhood and mother and daughter bonding in this book and many have said this is chick lit disguised as Historical Fiction. I say, who cares? It’s a well-developed story with excellent characterizations. Well done and I highly recommend.
Quotes I liked:
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 about the details of her mother’s life – without flinching or whining – the stronger the daughter.”
-“Why did I not know that birth is the pinnacle where women discover the courage to become mothers?”
-“They sang the words in unison, yet somehow created a web of sounds with their voices. It was like hearing a piece of fabric woven with all the colors of a rainbow. I did not know that such beauty could be formed by the human mouth. I had never heard harmony before.”
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The Housemaid
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A timeless book I read years ago and still evokes wonderful memories. This is a must for devoted readers.
Thanks Elise (my author stalker partner in crime). I agree, going back to some oldies brought up a renewed love for some old books! Thanks for the comment.
Absolutely LOVED this book. Bought it at your suggestion and couldn’t put it down. The author not only brought the main character Dinah to life, but those whose stories intertwined with Dinah’s and shaped her future. Definitely in my Top Ten of favorite books. Thanks for the amazing suggestion!!
carlyrobyn, I’m so glad you loved this book. This author brought history to life with her own twists. The power of reading is a wonderful thing!