Anita Diamant

Based on the Book of Genesis, Dinah shares her perspective on religious practices and sexul politics.

A Novel

The Red Tent

Death is no enemy, but the foundation of gratitude, sympathy, and art. Of all life's pleasures, only love owes no debt to death

The painful things seemed like knots on a beautiful necklace, necessary for keeping the beads in place.

Ryan Mateyk

"I recalled little but good: the scent of my infant son and the face of Nakht-re, cucumbers and honeyed fish, Meryt's laughter and the smiles of the new mothers to whom I delivered healthy sons and daughters. The painful things - Werenro's story, Re-nefer's choice, even my own loneliness - seemed liked the knots on a beautiful necklace, necessary for keeping the beads in place."

Absolutely incredible.

Sonia M

I have mixed feelings about it, although it was beautifully written - in a simple, not too complex manner - because it twists the narrative to one where men are mostly bad, and where women are only good. It is not a great contextualisation of the biblical narrative, like the "Joseph and his brothers" by Thomas Mann, but a revision of one potential side of the story that could not be known historically in a mostly patriarchal society . There's practically zero trace or good mention of early Judaism, and it turns into some sort of "women are goddesses" and praise of polytheism, in a quite biased way. 
However, it has very beautiful storytelling. Very beautiful threading and intertwining of stories. In spite of reacting with disapproval at the things i mentioned above, I'd re-read it.

A beautiful and tragic story of the life of Dinah, Jacob’s only daughter in the Bible. Even though this story is fictional, the author put a lot of research into finding what life would have been like for women in Biblical times, which makes this story even more compelling. 

Jillian Roberts

**Attention:  this book is LOOSELY based on the Dinah found in Genesis of the Bible.  You will need to put your knowledge of this story aside and red as a fictional novel since so much in misrepresented.”

This book is the coming of age book about Dinah.  She is a middle eastern woman with many brothers.  A time when women weren’t valued.  Travel through her journey through life as she sits at her mothers knees in the Red Tent and learns about womanhood, when she works as a midwife and becomes a wife and mother herself.

It was well written and engrossing.  Would have given it higher reviews if it had been more accurate.  It is a work of fiction.

Trigger warnings: pediphilia, beastiality, rape, violence, suicide, graphic violence.

Barbara Williford

**Attention:  this book is LOOSELY based on the Dinah found in Genesis of the Bible.  You will need to put your knowledge of this story aside and red as a fictional novel since so much in misrepresented.”

This book is the coming of age book about Dinah.  She is a middle eastern woman with many brothers.  A time when women weren’t valued.  Travel through her journey through life as she sits at her mothers knees in the Red Tent and learns about womanhood, when she works as a midwife and becomes a wife and mother herself.

It was well written and engrossing.  Would have given it higher reviews if it had been more accurate.  It is a work of fiction.

Trigger warnings: pediphilia, beastiality, rape, violence, suicide, graphic violence.

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 are to sustain her through a damaged 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, immediate connection. Deeply affecting, The Red Tent combines rich storytelling with a valuable achievement in modern fiction: a new view of Biblical women's society.

The Red Tent - 20th Anniversary Edition

jillian tenner

All I will say is eye opening and some sections hit crazy hard like couldn’t breathe, then 100 pages go bye and I didnt feel anything soooo read if u want idc

Sarah Ryan

I loved this book. The story of Dinah, a minor character from the Bible, is imagined and retold. But what drew me in and fascinated me most were the tales of sisterhood that existed among these women, the respect for a woman’s cycle and for women as life givers. Nowadays we are so disconnected from our natural cycle and rhythms, and we view bygone days as barbaric and primitive, but in this they possessed a knowledge and inner understanding that far outstrips ours. This shows how women retired from daily life while they were menstruating or after giving birth as a sign of respect and understanding that women needed to rest and nourish themselves during this time ... nothing to do with being ‘unclean’ ... instead it was a celebrated time for women to be together and to strength the bonds of sisterhood without the demands of day-to-day life.

Katie Kite

I don't really think I've ever had a favorite book because I've loved so many but if I did, it would be this one. Every time someone asks me what my favorite book is I say this one. I have read it dozens of times and every time I finish it I start it again. It has been the most wonderful comfort blanket for the last eight years of my life. The language is sweeping and beautiful and heartbreaking and everything I hope to be in a writer someday. Brava <3

In The Red Tent Anita Diamant brings the fascinating biblical character of Dinah to vivid life. Her name is Dinah. In the Bible her fate is merely hinted at in a brief and violent detour within the verses of the Book of Genesis that recount the life of Jacob and his infamous dozen sons. Anita Diamant's The Red Tent is an extraordinary and engrossing tale of ancient womanhood and family honour. Told in Dinah's voice, it opens with the story of her mothers – the four wives of Jacob – each of whom embodies unique feminine traits, and concludes with Dinah's own startling and unforgettable story of betrayal, grief and love. Deeply affecting and intimate, The Red Tent combines outstandingly rich storytelling with an original insight into women's society in a fascinating period of early history and such is its warmth and candour, it is guaranteed to win the hearts and minds of women across the world. 'I genuinely fell into this rich and colourful world and Dinah and Leah have stayed with me as ancestors and sisters brought to life by Anita Diamant's imaginative novel' - Maureen Lipman. Adapted as a TV mini series starring Rebecca Ferguson and Minnie Driver.

Maytal

Magdalene Lim

This is bible fan fiction. An interesting exploration of what could have happened in the famous stories recorded in the bible.

Mahasin S Ameen

An absolute favorite book of mine, and I don't normally like historical fiction.

The Red Tent tells the story of Dinah, sister of Joseph and daughter of Jacob/Israel in the Old Testament. The story of her mothers, Leah, Rachel, Zilpah and Bilhah, her 'rape' and her life. One of the best books I've ever read. I suggest listening to the audiobook, read by Carol Bilger, who does an excellent job of narrating the text.

Riley

I deeply appreciate the way this story is told.

Francine Corry

A kabel 

Rae smith

Michelle Miller

Ava Marie

Riley Walters

Richie B

Megan Isaacson

Paige Wanner

A fictional account of the Biblical story of Dinah, the only daughter of Jacob the Patriarch.

Megan Seraydarian 

Stephanie Hume 

Jackie Cunningham

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.

The Red Tent A Novel

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