I picked up the book The Red Tent by Anita Diamant at a yard sale, and was pleasantly surprised with the read.

The story is about a woman named Dinah, only mentioned in the book of Genesis by name. The story’s foundation comes from the tale of Jacob and his four wives. Dinah is Jacob’s only daughter, and Diamant crafted a fictional story about her to bring life to a somewhat mystery character in the bible.

The book is partitioned in 3 sections: the first being the story of Dinah’s mothers, the second being Dinah’s story up to her marriage, and the third being her life in Egypt.

I was fascinated by the accounts of life from a woman’s perspective. Even though fictitious, they were interesting to ponder. A peak into ancient “girl world” that exuded strength, resilience and fortitude while posing great life challenges of the body, heart and mind.

Diamant does an excellent job illuminating the lives of a number of characters, as I felt and sympathized with their emotions going throughout the book. I didn’t read the section in Genesis about Jacob until after I finished this book, and I was glad that I had nothing to spoil the story as I turned the pages. However, I did enjoy comparing the two and considering the lives of the women who receive little attention in the Bible after I had finished the book.

I felt I could really understand Dinah and her development as a woman over the course of her life, and found myself even shedding a tear in the final pages. Rarely do I find myself as moved as I was, and so contemplative about the role of women in the world and my place in it, the power of love and the forces of life that mold us along the way.

It’s definitely femininely oriented, but I strongly recommend it!