The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
It is appropriate to share this book with the women in one's family. The strongest thread within the story is the me
mory of women passed down by the bonds of family, knowledge, and love. The story is the intimate tale of woman living in early Biblical times. Told in the voice of Dinah, daughter of Jacob, Diamant wove the tale around a much storied family from the Book of Genesis. The fictional account fleshes out the people, women and men, who are often little more than names in the Biblical narrative.
The very details Genesis lacks are what make The Red Tent extraordinary. I could nearly taste the olives, smell sun warmed skin, feel sand under my feet. I could imagine myself among the women in the red tent welcoming the new moon and celebrating the cycles of our bodies. In these close quarters rivalries are put aside. Traditions and wisdom are transmitted to the next generation while men are not around.
I shared joy and sorrow over the birth stories of each child begotten to Jacob with details to which only the woman attending the birth would be privy. I've always have trouble reading the great lists of genealogy in Genesis. I could not help thinking if women had set down the history destined to become the Bible, no child would have been listed with name alone without some remembrance of their humanity.
While the novel illuminates the lives of three generations of Abraham's descendants, even those with no background in Jeudo-Christian traditions would find much in The Red Tent to inthrall. I was taken in prologue by this:
"If you want to understand any woman you must first ask about her mother and listen carefully."
Even into the dust of history, our collective mothers have made womanhood what it is today. It is a proud heritage we share across cultural divides.
Modern feminism would have us remember our foremothers as weak and subjugated, pitiable creatures with little more place in culture than the animals their men domesticated. I do not dispute the fact of lesser status and many injustices existing in nearly every civilization throughout history. However, limiting our understanding of ancient women to that is disrespectful and narrow minded.
The Red Tent helps us remember the strength it took to thrive in the conditions in which they lived. In the Western world, it is unthinkable to imagine bring babies into the world knowing only a few would likely survive birth and childhood. They were aware how dangerous childbearing was back then. Each woman lived with the knowledge she risked her life to be a mother. Even the most skilled midwife had few tools at her disposal; herbs for medication, a knife, and her experienced hands.
A woman like Leah, Jacob's first wife and mother of many, would continue to endure these risks. Without these brave mothers, humanity could have easily died out by the gift of reason that sets our species apart. I do not buy the idea that they had looser emotional ties to their children than we do now that the death of a child is relatively rare. No, these children were precious and loved, or they would not have been conceived at such a high cost. Choosing to bear children was the ultimate gift of love passed down to modern mankind.
In the book, it is very clear that the men tend the goats and sheep, then sit around telling tall tales and drinking beer. The women run the household, process the wool, tend the garden, harvest and process olives, grow grapes for wine, and brew beer, plus the traditional childcare and cooking. Still think working woman are a modern concept?
They did the doctoring even beyond midwifery. Diamant writes about the women caring for Jacob after he wrestles with a stranger in the dessert. He limped for the rest of his days, but he survived his injuries and walked thanks to the women of his household. With knowledge of herbs medicinal properties to rival any pharmaceutical scientist, complains of pain or upset stomach were made to the elder women of the family. I would not be surprised they had effected remedies for skin aliments better than modern psoriasis treatment. They may not have had modern diagnostic techniques, but their cures for aliments were the basis of medicine before men began studying healing arts.
I encourage you to read The Red Tent, then share it with your mother, daughter, sister, or friend. Nothing I can say can describe the experience, but I know you will not be disappointed.
I think that's my favorite book... or at least it's at the top of my list.
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I only regret that it was published ten years ago and I have only now read it. I'm sure I will return to it many times.
I cannot say one bad thing about the book.
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Looks interesting, sounds interesting and I trust your taste in books. Plus, it's talking about women's plights, something that I refrain to discuss because I'm no bra-burner, but something I'm always interested to learn more about. I placed a hold on this at the local library.
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I'm not a "bra burner" type either. I'd rather have the right to have a cute, comfortable bra that doesn't cost too much. To embrace my femininity in every way, because it makes me strong.
I am hugely flattered that you trust my taste in books. Please let me know how you like it.
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This sounds like a book I would enjoy reading a lot! You gave a great description of it.
By the way, I tagged you.
http://healthyhomeblog.com/kathy-tagged-me/592/
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Thank you. I thought for a long time about what I wanted to say about the book.
I'll be checking on the tag later tonight.
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I don't know why but I was nervous about reading that book. My daughter gave it to me and so I felt obligated. It was so GOOD. Very insightful into their lives. I recommend it to every woman.
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The only negative review I read on Amazon was written by a man. The thing that offended me about the review was that it took issue with the book showing heroic men of the Bible in a less than flattering light. As if the people in the Bible are perfect and virtuous. Plus, he didn't like that the women worshiped the old goddesses and gods. But they did. I don't feel the need to white wash history to make good religion.
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I really do love to read a good book and you have made this book sound so interesting that I am going to go out and get it now. Thanks.
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I know you'll love it. Come back and let me know what you think when you're done.
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I loved The Red Tent. My BFF gave me a copy for Christmas last year and I devoured it. Wonderful. Thank you for sharing your review - spot on.
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I look forward to giving out copies of The Red Tent for many years to come.
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I got the book out! This is the first book I put on hold since I got my library card, see how you influenced me. They had to have it sent from another suburb's library so they charged me 55 cent for it. Small price to pay I think! I've only been up to page 15 while waiting for the bus home from work. Took a lot of willpower not to bring it to campus otherwise I'd be so distracted. But dang, page 15 and already I'm hooked. Will be reading it before bed.
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*beaming*
It only gets better from there.
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