Friday, November 13, 2015

SERIES: Jen's Library (#8)


ANITA DIAMANT'S THE RED TENT

Published in 1997, The Red Tent is based on the biblical story of Jacob and his sons, his wives, and his only daughter, Dinah, who is the voice of the novel.  Biblical Dinah first appears in Genesis 31:21.  Then, in Genesis 34, Dinah is said to have been raped while afterward, her brothers exact revenge.  There’s more to it, but Dinah’s entire Biblical story is only one small chapter of a huge, widely believed and widely circulated book.  Diamant’s novel expands on Dinah’s story, giving voice to a nearly invisible female character and giving her an opportunity to tell the world what really happened.  Dinah’s story is so richly realized, at times I find it hard to separate Biblical Dinah from Novel Dinah.  There is no way, in one small paragraph, I could do this stunningly beautiful novel true justice.  Even if you are not a Christian believer, this novel is one you should not miss.  (Note: This novel was made into a two-part miniseries of the same title, adapted by Lifetime, which premiered in December of 2014.  I have yet to see it.  I may never see it.  The book is too wonderful and I can’t believe the miniseries would be any better than my own vivid imagination.)

TTFN
JMS

6 comments:

Unknown said...

I love this book!!!!!!!

JMS said...

Yeah. Me, too. One of my all-time favorites. Miss you, Reg!

Sam said...

I first read this book in our little book club (remember?) when I still lived in TN. This book really made an impression on me and I have since re-read it twice. I'm thankful for our little book club because I don't think I would have ever found The Red Tent or read it on my own.

JMS said...

Hi Sam - of course I remember! I miss the book club, and especially I miss when you lived in Tennessee! Come back! Glad you love this book, 'cause I sure do!

Unknown said...

Surprised by your "Christian believer" comment. Indeed I am not. Dinah, the wonderful woman in this book, is a Jew. As is Anita Diamant, the author of this book. This book is loved by thousands of Jewish women.

JMS said...

Actually, Deborah - yes, I know. It's not that I was in any way saying ONLY Christian believers would appreciate this book, only that I happen to be one. And, because this story is an elaboration on a small chapter in the Christian Bible, this is where my "Christian believer" comment stemmed from. There was no malicious intent in my statement, nor any dismissal of the Jewish faith. I grew up in a predominantly Jewish community, my best friends were Jewish and I spent quite a bit of time going to temple with them rather than to church with my family. If you took my innocuous statement in a way which it was not intended, I apologize.