The Red Tent by Anita Diamant (1997)

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The Red Tent by Anita Diamant



                Many people have heard the biblical story of Jacob, the man who fled from his home after stealing his brother’s blessing. He fled to his mother’s family and met Rachel by the well. He offered to work several years for Rachel’s father, Laban, in exchange for her hand in marriage. He would eventually sire many children through many wives but it was Rachel’s only child Joseph who would eventually be sold by his brothers into slavery, rise in the ranks to eventually become an adviser to the king. This story is the one that is known. The Red Tent is the story people don’t know. This is the story of Dinah, Jacob’s only daughter and the last child of his first wife Leah. But this is not only the story of Dinah, it is the story of her mother, her aunts and the many other women she met while sitting in the red tent. The tent where women gathered with the changing moon and the coming of their life’s blood. Where they made sacrifices shared stories and learned from one another.
                So in short this is a retelling of a biblical tale with the focus being on the woman of the family. The story begins with Jacob’s arrival in Rachel’s village and continues into the story of each of the wives and how their marriages to Jacob came to be. Their jealousies, insecurities and friendships were explored as well as their place in Jacob’s heart. Then comes Dinah and readers learn what is expected of a daughter compared to that of the sons. Women are very much the focus of this story and it breathed life into the biblical tale told for thousands of years. World building was the strength of this novel. Diamant was able to build a world in ancient times that felt alive. The politics and customs felt real. Through the eyes of Dinah we meet all the characters and for the most part they were well developed. At the very least you could understand them and their struggles and what life may have been like for them.

                This novel was ok. I can’t think of a better phrase than ok. I didn’t love it and I didn’t hate it. I simply read it and found the idea of a biblical retelling fascinating. This was my second attempt at this novel. It’s been at least a decade since I tried reading this the first time and for the life of me I couldn’t do it. This time I was more intrigued by the minute details and was able to read it quickly. This is by no means a bad book but I simply wasn’t able to invest myself in the day to day lives of these women. I give it 3 out of 5 stars. 

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