The Red Tent
Educational
Emotional
Vibrant

The Red Tent A Novel

Anita Diamant2005
Based on the Book of Genesis, Dinah shares her perspective on religious practices and sexul politics.
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Reviews

Photo of Ryan Mateyk
Ryan Mateyk@the_rybrary
5 stars
Jul 4, 2024

"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.

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Sonia M@booksandsoup
4 stars
Mar 29, 2024

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.

Photo of Jillian Roberts
Jillian Roberts@jillianroberts
3.5 stars
Dec 4, 2023

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.

+2
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Barbara Williford@barbarawilliford
1.5 stars
Aug 4, 2022

**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.

+1
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jillian tenner@jilliantenner
3.5 stars
Jun 26, 2022

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

+2
Photo of Sarah Ryan
Sarah Ryan@sarahryan
5 stars
Mar 17, 2022

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.

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Katie Kite@katiek5
5 stars
Feb 24, 2022

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

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Maytal@maytal
3 stars
Nov 18, 2021

Engaging and easy read

Photo of Magdalene Lim
Magdalene Lim@magdalene
3 stars
Nov 13, 2021

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

Photo of Mahasin S Ameen
Mahasin S Ameen@fivefootsmall
5 stars
Sep 14, 2021

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.

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Riley@coldeurydice
5 stars
Sep 11, 2021

I deeply appreciate the way this story is told.

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Francine Corry@booknblues
4 stars
Feb 2, 2024
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A kabel @me0wme0w
2 stars
Jan 8, 2024
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Rae smith@raeskmith4991
5 stars
Dec 2, 2023
+1
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Michelle Miller@bookishwifey
3 stars
Jul 20, 2023
Photo of Raquel 🧚🏼‍♀️
Raquel 🧚🏼‍♀️ @raquelbaeta
1 star
Sep 1, 2022
+2
Photo of Ava Marie
Ava Marie@avamarieaune
4.5 stars
Aug 15, 2022
Photo of Riley Walters
Riley Walters@rileywalters
4.5 stars
Jul 27, 2022
Photo of Richie B
Richie B@richiebonanza
4 stars
Jul 12, 2022
Photo of Megan Isaacson
Megan Isaacson@megisaacson
4.5 stars
Mar 31, 2022
Photo of Paige Wanner
Paige Wanner@turntopaige22
3 stars
Mar 14, 2022
Photo of Megan Seraydarian
Megan Seraydarian @meg_ser
4.5 stars
Sep 6, 2021
+4
Photo of Stephanie Hume
Stephanie Hume @stephmh
4 stars
Jul 5, 2024
Photo of Tamara
Tamara@tea4tamara
4 stars
Jul 5, 2024

Highlights

Photo of ★
@ysabel

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

Photo of ★
@ysabel

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