The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

Published in 1997 by Picador
5 Stars

Goodreads Review
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 Tentcombines rich storytelling with a valuable achievement in modern fiction: a new view of biblical women's society.

Review:  The Red Tent is an interesting perspective of one of the most know stories from the Bible.  The story of Jacob and his many sons, in particular Joseph and his "Amazing Techno-color Dream Coat", have been told in many movies, books, and even Broadway musicals.  The Red Tent tells the same tale but from the woman's perspective; a side that is sadly under represented in the Bible.

I really loved this book.  Like REALLY loved this book.  I absolutely loved the tribe aspect for the women.  I think in modern times we look at ancient tribal cultures and see the women as repressed "possessions" of the men in the tribe.  This book really shows how the women have their own culture, support systems, and contentment with their woman-ness.  They aren't meek submissive pets.  They stand up for themselves, are shrewd business women, and sexual beings aware of their bodies and the natural cycle of life.  Being on their period wasn't the curse so many women complain about today.  The Red Tent was their retreat, their place of solace where they could congregate and share in each other's wisdom. 

There are a lot of people who dislike this book, and I think it's largely the people who cannot see history as any way other than what is exactly in the Bible.  The idea that the "heroes" of the Bible may not be so heroic after all scares them because it causes them to question their faith.  I think that it's very important to not read the Bible as literal fact for modern times.  It has to be looked at within the context of a two thousand year old nomadic nation and that the Bible was written two thousand years ago in ancient Hebrew.  There's bound to be some things that are lots in translation and through cultural evolution.  For example the word "rape".  Was Dinah raped in a modern sense, with violence and anger, or was she raped in an ancient sense, as in having sex out of wedlock?  The same word but with two very different meanings and implications. 

Overall I think The Red Tent is a very important book for women's spirituality.  It presents the story of one of the most under represented figures in the Bible and gives her a voice.  It never strays from the original backdrop of the Biblical story, but expands on this untold story with grace and beauty.