Review: The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
by Jenners • 08/14/2009 • 3.5 Stars, D Authors, Fiction, Historical, Literary, R Titles • 32 Comments
Title: The Red TentISBN: 0-312-19551-6
Publishing Info: Picador, 1997
Number of Pages: 321
Book Category: Fiction
Story Overview
My name means nothing to you. My memory is dust.
This is not your fault, or mine. The chain connecting mother to daughter was broken and the word passed to the keeping of men, who had no way of knowing. That is why I became a footnote, my story a brief detour between the well-known history of my father, Jacob, and the celebrated chronicle of Joseph, my brother. On those rare occasions when I was remembered, it was as a victim. Near the beginning of your holy book, there is a passage that seems to say I was raped and continues with the bloody tale of how my honor was avenged.
It’s a wonder that any mother ever called a daughter Dinah again. But some did. Maybe you guessed that there was more to me than the voiceless cipher in the text. Maybe you heard it in the music of my name: the first vowel high and clear, as when a mother calls to her child at dusk; the second sound soft, for whispering secrets on pillows. Dee-nah.
So begins the The Red Tent – the fictionalized story of Dinah (whose only mention in the Bible is in Genesis 34). Anita Diamant imagines an entire life for Dinah — from her birth as the only daughter of Jacob to her life as a woman in the ancient world of the Old Testament.
From her childhood among her four “mothers” — Leah, Rachel, Zilpah and Bilhah (each were married to Jacob and doted on Dinah as the only girl born among the four women) to the private world of the red tent (where menstruating women gather during “that” time), Dinah’s story provides an insider’s view of what it was like to be a woman in biblical times — including the hazards and politics of sharing a husband. Eventually, the family leaves the land where Dinah was born and to travels to Canaan so that Jacob can reconcile with his brother Esau. It is here where the story of Dinah in the Bible takes place. Her “rape” triggers the slaughter of an entire town by some of her brothers — leading to the family’s disbanding. Although she doesn’t appear again in the Bible, Diamant’s story has her fleeing her family and moving to Egypt, where she lives out her life as a midwife — eventually finding happiness and peace with her family’s history.
My Thoughts
I read this book as part of my Summer Vacation Reading Challenge. I chose it because I’ve had this book for years and never read it (thought it would be boring but had gotten it based on my mother’s repeated recommendations). Plus I thought it would be interesting to travel to another time and place. I’m so glad I finally broke down and read it because this book was anything but boring. In fact, it was downright fascinating. I love that Diamant had the courage to take a minor figure in the Bible and imagine an entire life for her. At the end of my book, there is a short reading guide in which Diamant talks about some of the choices she made for the book. I think it is worth quoting:
Aiding her [Diamant's] work was “midrash,” the ancient and still vital literary form, which means “search” or “investigation.”
“Historically, the rabbis used this highly imaginative form of storytelling to make sense of the elliptical nature of the Bible — to explain, for example, why Cain killed Abel. The compressed stories and images in the Bible are rather like photographs. They don’t tell us everything we want or need to know. Midrash is the story about what happened before and after the photographic flash.”
She points out that “The Red Tent is not a translation but a work of fiction, its perspective and focus — by and about the female characters — distinguishes it from the biblical account in which women are usually peripheral and often totally silent. By giving Dinah a voice and by providing texture and content to the sketchy biblical description, my books is a radical departure from the historical text.”
I think Diamant did a brilliant job of imagining an entire life for Dinah while still working in the biblical story that many are familiar with. (Sadly, it has been years since I’ve read the Bible and I mostly remembered the story of her brother Joseph from the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. My old CCD teachers must be proud!!!) Actually, I was surprised how many names and stories did jog my memory. If nothing else, I wanted to read Genesis over again to fill in the gaps of my knowledge (and I plan on doing so).
The book has a definite feminist slant to it. In Diamant’s story, the women are kept on the sidelines but manage to exert their will by well-placed whispers, hints and using their feminine wiles. But make no mistake, this was a man’s world and a woman had to be smart and strong to survive. The red tent is where the woman’s society hums and buzzes — where they celebrate being a woman, make plans and build community. In a time when many women shared a husband, it was critical to work out these relationships. And in a time when childbirth could be incredibly dangerous, women might need to rely on their “sisters” to raise their children or save their lives.
Diamant chose to make Dinah a midwife, which I think was a fruitful (pun intended!) choice. Imagine living in the ancient world and facing childbirth without a sterile hospital, trained physician or medicine? The stories of the various births throughout the book were both horrifying and fascinating. Dinah and her fellow midwives use a variety of herbs, massages, songs and common-sense techniques to get women through births of all kinds. It made me wonder if any of these techniques are still in use today.
Another thing I liked about this book was the whole “red tent” business. For Dinah and her fellow women, this was a time of togetherness, rest and celebration — not a solitary almost shameful thing like it is today. I thought that was kind of nice. However, the actual concept of having that “time of the month” on a bed of straw for three days is rather unappealing when viewed through my modern eyes. In fact, it started me thinking about how bad I would have it if I lived “back then.” (In fact, I probably wouldn’t have survived anyway because I was a “breech” baby and that kind of birth was usually fatal to both child and mother.) But suppose I had lived. With my bad eyes, I would have barely been able to see anything clearly. And no air conditioning and living in the desert? And having to grow my own food and make my own clothes? And being a bit of property to either my husband or father to be married off or even sold if needed? Nothing like a little view of how our sisters in the past had it to make you appreciate the conveniences of modern life a little more!
In short, The Red Tent is a thought-provoking read that brings to life an entire “hidden” world of the women of the Bible. Diamant has a poetic writing style that suits the material well, and there is a sense of mysticism throughout the book that lends it an almost fanciful, mystical feel at times. Yet the book is firmly rooted in the real world as well — the hot, dusty world of women who lived in an ancient time and who didn’t really have a voice of their own. How lovely of Anita Diamant to come along and give a voice to Dinah — to help us modern beings learn and think more about those who came before us and the struggles and hardships they faced — as well as their joys and triumphs.
My Final Recommendation
I would highly recommend this book as it is thought-provoking, well-written and offers a fully imagined glimpse into what it might have been like to be a woman in Biblical times. Don’t make the mistake I did at first and think the subject matter might be dry, boring and staid. I think you’d be surprised at how bawdy (yes, bawdy!), earthy and graphic the lives of these ancient women are. But if the topic of menstruation and other womanly things gives you pause, this might not be the best book for you. Also, if the idea of an author reimagining Biblical stories gets your blood pressure up, this might not be a good choice for you either.
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I really enjoyed this book. I wish she’d write another story from the Bible in a similar way.
I know!! It seems like there are lots of other Biblical stories that could be treated in a similar way.
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Hey! I've been consumed by real-life things lately and haven't been reading blogs or writing my own, but my sister found a great used bookstore where everything is $4. I came to your site to steal a book list from books you mentioned. This book is one of my favorites of all time, so I wanted to comment on it. Have you read her book The Last Days of Dogtown? It's very, very different from The Red Tent, and not nearly as successful for her, but the characters in it are beautiful. It was one of those books where when you get to the end, you can hardly bare to think about not having a glimpse into the characters' lives anymore. Seriously when I read the last page, I held it closed in on my chest for a few minutes (I was lying in bed) and when I put it on the bedside table, I felt so sad. It's just a quiet, good read.
I read this a while back and was equally surprised and impressed with this story. I enjoyed immensely as well.
I have seen wonderful reviews like yours for this book and yet I just cannot get interested in it and I have no idea why. It seems like the type of book I would enjoy. Strangeness.
As others have commented, I read this years ago, and remember really liking it. This was pre-blogging or note-taking, so I can't give more insight (but, yes, I'd love to re-read it!)
This is a great review! I loved this book when I read it several years ago…and am still trying to get my sister to read it. Your review makes me want to read it again!
I enjoyed your review and gave added this book onto my ever growing list of books to read.
I loved this one when I read it — probably soon after it was published.
It's been a long time since I've read this one – I think I'd like to read it again, and see if I enjoy it as much the second time around.
Wow! After that review, I definitely must read this!
–Anna
Diary of an Eccentric
Oooh! I LOVED this book so much. It really was incredible.
I have hazy, but very fond memories of this one.
I'm glad that you gave this book another chance. Terrific review. I think it is an interesting subject for a novel. I can't imagine what women through time had to endure. It sounds like Anita Diamant knows her subject matter well.
I saw this book awhile ago and told myself I need to read it!!
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Glad you like it I will have to put it on the list
I always think the same things, like reading about pioneer days or any kind of adverse situation really; my response is: I would have been dead in 2 days!
Great, thorough review!
Oh yes! Isn't reading wonderful? You know a book has touched you when it leads you to something new or forgotten. I also loved this book and thought of the extensive research the author must have done to make us FEEL as if we were living in biblical times, too. Fascinating!
Sounds like an interesting book, though I don't normally read biblical fiction.
Sounds like an interesting book, though I don't normally read biblical fiction.
I seriously loved this book. It's so far from what I normally read, that I didn't think I'd like it at all.
Thanks for the review-it reminded me that I want to read other books by this author!
As the only girl in a family of four boys, I needed a community of females like that – but I would like the modern conveniences!
Another book on my wish list! Borders has a 40% coupon that is good until Sunday – just last night, I was wondering what I could buy!
Or should I just try to win it?
You wrote a fantastic review! I read this book many years ago. It was recommended to me many times over but I was I skeptical of the book and felt as you did going into it. I, also, realized quickly how wrong I was and thoroughly enjoyed the book.
I'm so glad you did too!
Amy
Great review – per usual!
I read this book a while ago and while it was not nearly as "dry" as I had thought it might be, it didn't quite grab me in the same way that it did you. Maybe I need to give it a second chance?
This is one of my "keeper" books. The ones I don't loan out because I am sure not to get it back. I am glad you liked it. I enjoyed your review of it and may have to read it again.
I remember loving this book when I read it. I'm glad you liked it. Very good review.
I really liked the reimagining of a very minor Biblical character. Here's my review:
http://bibliofreakblog.com/fiction/red-tent-iby-anita-diamanti/
I tried reading this book years ago, on the recommendation of a friend, but just could not get into it.
glad you liked it though..
I have wanted to read this book but was afraid of it being fiction and based on the Bible and what not. But you make it sound absolutely irresistible. I think I must read it. Maybe I can make it out of the house tomorrow to get it? Maybe! Thanks for the wonderful review. You are awesome as always.
I loved this book the first time I read it. Your review made me want to pick it up again and reread it!
Wow! This really made an impact on you. I've been hearing about this book for years, and it's been recommended to me more than once. I think this fall is the time for me to finally read it, too! Thanks for sharing your wonderful review.
Thanks for the review – your passion for the book shows!