Summary
Anita Diamant dives into the life of the silent, female character from the book of Genesis in the Bible, Dinah. She is the daughter of Jacob and Leah, and sister to Joseph. In the Bible, she is quickly mentioned as having been “defiled” by the prince of Shechem.
However, in Anita Diamant’s retelling, Dinah and the prince were in love. Dinah’s male family members are outraged at how the prince treated their sister, who had even offered a bride price to her family so he could marry her. The male family members take their revenge and leave Dinah heartbroken.
She leaves her family and later gives birth to her son in Egypt. Anita Diamant’s unique retelling of such a small story in the Bible expands on Dinah’s day-to-day life, as well as her hardships and finding forgiveness for her family.
Review
If you’re looking for a quick recommendation, yes, I would definitely recommend this book!
I first read this in high school, and I thought it was amazing. To take a quick story in the Bible, one that could be so easily missed, and turn it into a book captured my imagination. Of course, the entire book could be completely inaccurate, but that’s why I filed it under historical fiction.
Anita Diamant has a way of taking an ancient time, so far away from where we are now and making it real. Dinah’s life felt close. Like I could picture her as she went about her daily chores, or just talking to her siblings and aunts. It’s hard to take ancient historical figures and turn them into real people, but that’s just what Anita Diamant did with Dinah and her family members.
My only complaint about this book was the plot and how it could seem a little slow at times. But, just as soon as I felt the pace slow, something big happened. The pace would be right back where it was, and I was intrigued once more.
Overall, I would recommend this book to a busy mom. Because it’s not just about Dinah, but her female family members as well, and her connection with them. The red tent is where Dinah and her female family members spend their time when they gave birth or it was that time of the month. During those times, they bonded. And I think it’s a kind of bond that only women can share.
Being a mom can feel lonely at times, but I know I found solace and friendship in this book. Because I bonded with Dinah’s family members right along with her. If you’re interested, the book was adapted into a two-episode show on Lifetime. I thought it was a great way to reward myself for finishing the book. Although it wasn’t the same as the book, I think it was well done.
Rating
Four out of five stars
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If you enjoyed my review of The Red Tent by Anita Diamant, you might also like Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks. Check out my review!
If you’re interested in purchasing The Red Tent, here are some quick links to buy the book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. And, if you’re interested to see what others think, here’s the link to the book on Goodreads.
