Product Review
This is a biblical fiction based on the life of Dinah, daughter of the legendary Jacob. Written from the perspective of Dinah, it details the lives of the women (specifically her mother, aunts, and friends) who shaped her life.
The "Red Tent" refers to the structure women would retire to during their menstruation in which they would rest, recuperate, share stories, and celebrate life/birth/death. This structure was considered sacred, as only women of child-rearing age were permitted to enter. In this novel, this red tent becomes the center of Dinah's life and her source of joy and strength.
This poignant tale of community built and then unraveled, showcases solid research about life in the ancient near east. Although characters originate in the Bible, their behaviors are frequently explained far differently than in the corresponding Biblical stories.
Anita Diamant is a wonderful writer, historian and storyteller. Her Dinah invites the reader into the story in such a friendly, familiar way that you will find yourself eager to hear more of her tales, and reluctant to let them end. This is one of those rare books that you may find yourself reading again and again.
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