The Red Tent: A Novel [AUDIOBOOK] [UNABRIDGED] (Audio Cassette)

~ (Author), Carol Bilger (Reader)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The red tent is the place where women gathered during their cycles of birthing, menses, and even illness. Like the conversations and mysteries held within this feminine tent, this sweeping piece of fiction offers an insider's look at the daily life of a biblical sorority of mothers and wives and their one and only daughter, Dinah. Told in the voice of Jacob's daughter Dinah (who only received a glimpse of recognition in the Book of Genesis), we are privy to the fascinating feminine characters who bled within the red tent. In a confiding and poetic voice, Dinah whispers stories of her four mothers, Rachel, Leah, Zilpah, and Bilhah--all wives to Jacob, and each one embodying unique feminine traits. As she reveals these sensual and emotionally charged stories we learn of birthing miracles, slaves, artisans, household gods, and sisterhood secrets. Eventually Dinah delves into her own saga of betrayals, grief, and a call to midwifery.

"Like any sisters who live together and share a husband, my mother and aunties spun a sticky web of loyalties and grudges," Anita Diamant writes in the voice of Dinah. "They traded secrets like bracelets, and these were handed down to me the only surviving girl. They told me things I was too young to hear. They held my face between their hands and made me swear to remember." Remembering women's earthy stories and passionate history is indeed the theme of this magnificent book. In fact, it's been said that The Red Tent is what the Bible might have been had it been written by God's daughters, instead of her sons. --Gail Hudson --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From Library Journal

The Red Tent is an attempt to breathe life into the story of Jacob's daughter, Dinah, who is known in an episode in the book of Genesis as a woman dishonored by Shalem and the cause of a bloody massacre. Dinah herself narrates this novel, giving a new perspective on herself, Jacob's wives, and her famous half-brother, Joseph. This is a celebration of women and their work: of life, birth, cooking, cleaning, sewing, gardening, and even dying. The book is interesting though marred by passages that stretch the willing suspension of disbelief, e.g., Dinah directly addresses a contemporary audience, she talks about her own death, and a few similar moments that take the listener out of the tale. Carol Bilger does apt work with what she's given, providing a subdued performance that generally suits the material, which is short on dialog and long on description. The music that ends each side adds to the mood of the story while also letting the listener know that it's time to flip the cassette or change the tape. Having enjoyed a strong readership, The Red Tent in audio should also find an audience. Recommended for larger collections. Adrienne Furness, Maplewood Community Lib., Rochester, NY
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio; Unabridged edition (November 18, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1559276452
• ISBN-13: 978-1559276450
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 4.7 x 2.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1,496 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #416,683 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #31 in	Books > Books on Cassette > Literature & Fiction > Fiction
  #32 in	Books > Books on Cassette > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity
  #40 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Books on Cassette

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

246 of 276 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I would give it many more than five stars, July 30, 2000

By	Andrea Merkowitz "book mama" (Peabody, MA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Red Tent (Paperback)

First of all let me say that I absolutely loved The Red Tent. It's based on a character, Dinah, who is mentioned in passing in the old testament. Diamant has created a wonderful story about the women of biblical times, our fore-mothers Rebecca, Sarah, Rachel, and Leah, from Dinah's point of view.

You do not have to be familiar with the bible to enjoy this novel, although if you are, you'll certainly recognize stories and characters. It's about the strength of women, their roles in a male dominated religious society, and their all important relationships.

Although I was eager to read this book, I didn't expect it to have such an impact on me, nor did I expect to love it as much as I did. Highly recommended.

52 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The red tent, February 5, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Red Tent (Paperback)

It would appear that any book about interesting and perhaps unusual women generates much controversy among its readership ("Bitter Grounds" and "The Poisonwood Bible" come to mind). This book is no different. The Red Tent is loosely based on the Biblical story of Dinah, but it is a novel, not fact, even though it may be based in fact. Diamant even takes liberties with the Dinah story as it appears in Genesis in the Bible. However, it does appear to be thoroughly researched -- I found myself equally fascinated by descriptions of life during Biblical times as by the lives of the characters in the book. Unlike some of the other reviewers I didn't find this book to be anti-male. I and many women I know lead very different lives from our men and we too see them in a completely different light than they see themselves. We often laugh at them or paint them in an unflattering light, despite the fact that we love them. We are not, however, anti-male, just human and female. I suspect men amongst themselves discuss women in much the same way. I personally found this book full of thoughts and ideas that touched me deeply, especially since I am 40 years old, have had several children and have lived in foreign countries. Perhaps much younger people would have trouble identifiying some of the "human condition" scenarios in the book -- I don't know. Regardless, I have wholeheartedly recommended this book to several people and recommend it to you.

46 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is an engrossing story with compelling characters., February 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Red Tent (Paperback)

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant is an engrossing, well-researched story with compelling and believable characters. It is especially gratifying to find a sympathetic, detailed, and believable account of an Old Testament woman's life set in this era and part of the world. The story is told from the point of view of Dinah, daughter of Jacob, a successful nomadic sheep-herder. She is raised by four different women, all wives of Jacob and becomes a midwife. Through an intriguing and dramatic turn of the plot, she ends up in Egypt. The book was a pleasure for even this non-religious feminist to read. The images are riveting. The characters are memorable. I wish I were a screenwriter because the Red Tent would make a wonderful movie.