The Red Tent - 20th Anniversary Edition

There’s something about stories retold from a woman’s perspective that change everything.

I thought that because this was based on someone real from the Bible, the story would be more in tune with scripture. I realize this is fiction but it is not Christian fiction. The majority of the book is about the worship of other gods. Just wasn’t for me.

I didn’t think I would love this book as much as I did. Dinah is an amazing woman and put up with so much in her lifetime. I highly recommend this

I read this book as part of a women’s and gender studies course. I’ve recommended it to many people since. One of my favorites!

The latter years of her life seemed a bit rushed, but a powerful read anyhow.

I read this book for a Judaic literature class and it was great. I don’t normally choose to read books this big in one sitting but I had to finish it for a test, and the only downside was how tired I was. It’s very rare that a story hooks me in to finish a book in one night. Definitely recommend no matter if you are religious or not, or what gender you identify with. Dinah is one tough woman in my opinion.

I can't say enough about this book. It has a wonderful perspective and allows me the opportunity to feel more of a connection to the biblical stories I have heard and read throughout my years. This was shared with me by my daughter and will be passed to my nieces, sisters and friends. Thank you, Anita Diamant, for your time writing and sharing this amazing novel!

Twenty years on this story still resonates with a power few novels possess. I discovered about a quarter way through that by reading it slower, more purposefully - like poetry - that it deepened; like moving from a stream to the ocean. The author has been truly touched by greatness with this story. I want to tell her: THANK YOU!

The author uses a biblical character Dinah to weave distasteful false stories. Just a story that had the mark of biblical Dinah but the author definitely missed of using Dinah's true story to satisfy a reader. Dinah's entire family were described (character wise) as having dark and evil hearts. Lots of hatred too. The author relied on outer appearance and sexual pleasures. The first 200 pages were all over the place. For example the author portrays Joseph as being prideful, arrogant, with a temper and a possible homosexual with the King and possibly fathered a daughter with the Queen. Another example Dinah wasn't raped but actually wanted sex.

The story of The Red Tent takes you on a journey of a life. A delightful story full of sights, smells, trials and tribulations of a time that we can only imagine. I was fully absorbed and emotionally charged. Loved this book!

This would have been a great book if it were pure fiction rather a fictional representation of true biblical characters. The fact that this novel intent is historical fiction should require that it build on already available and proven facts. However, the Writer discards the facts and some of the core essence of the story and characters to the point that the story actually contradicts the facts. For example the rape of Dinah by Schechem is described instead as a consensual loving experience when the facts clearly states that it was rape. In depicting the relationship between Leah and Jacob the Writer insinuates that Jacob loved Leah. Leah clearly named some of her children out of a longing to be loved by her husband. Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi (Genesis 29:34). The Writer describes Bilhah as an unattractive black female and insinuates that her hair texture added to her lack in beauty. This again is another inaccuracy, while we do not know the actual race of Bilhah, in biblical days people of black race were not uncommon and their beauty was not discounted. The Writer also villainizes some of the heroic Patriarchs of Christianity and Judaism, which I found sacrilegious and at the very least disrespectful. For instance the Writer insinuates that Joseph lusted after men and also insinuates that the blessings/curses Jacob gave to his sons on his deathbed was a combination of his resentment and feebleness of mind. In fact there were so many strong contradictions that this book would have been better as pure fiction without trying to correlate to lives of individuals that actually existed. Although the author of this book shows great skill in her writing, this book is a terrible read, as the Writer did not keep the essential details of the characters it described. I’m concerned that so many artist/writers/film makers are coming up with their own rendition of the biblical stories. However they often miss essential details and loose focus of the tale. Which makes the story seem not well thought out and unfortunately misguides others. These are true stories and considered sacred not mere fairytales please don’t exploit these stories. If you want to add fictional elements to give more depth to the characters keep the essential details and work around that and please remain true to the intent behind each story.

I knew whoever wrote this book had to be very familiar with the Bible. I was not surprised to discover the author was of Jewish descent. As a Christian Bible study teacher who loves the book of Genesis, this was an awesome story! The way the author took fact and made such a beautiful story of fiction was awesome. I was reading the Bible and the book. If more would weave stories like this maybe more people would be inspired to read their Bibles also.

I absolutely love this book! It is my favorite book, and I have memorized the whole thing. Thank you!

This book hooked and drew me in with the rich description and intricate family ties. The story told from a woman's perspective in a man's world has a tone of hidden authority. Dessert life is sustained by and through the women of the red tent, and their relationships and interactions keep each other alive. I couldn't put it down and while it was a bit drawn out at some points the story itself gives the biblical tale a tangible and realistic feel. It engages the reader from beginning to end. You feel the sorrows and joys with the women of the story, and at the end feel as if you have been traveling with them in the dessert.

My mother and I read this book together and it gave us a lot to talk about. A beautiful portrait of womanhood still relevant today.

I have read this book so many times, and each time the story gives me more. Diamant introduces another view of biblical days, from a woman, where the reader feels love, compassion, pain, sorrow and peace. I will always appreciate my 9th grade teacher for introducing this to me over a decade ago, and will always love this story.

I'm a religious studies minor and appreciate how much research the author did to write this novel. It's intelligently written & one quickly falls in love with the strength of her characters. Although I first read this book years ago, I cannot forget it and like the other reviewers, have read it over and over. Please read it!

Once i began reading The Red Tent I could not put it down. It takes you back to biblical times as if you are experiencing events along with the characters. After reading The Red Tent I have not found another biblical fiction that compares.

This is one of the best pieces of historical fiction I've ever read. I wish Diamant would write other Old Testament fictional pieces.