Told in dinahs voice, the novel reveals the traditions and turmoils of ancient womanhoodthe world of the red tent. In time she finds another love and reconciles with her brother joseph, who is now vizier of egypt. You get to see the world as it might have been in christs time through dinahs eyes, and it is so vividly told that you feel like you are there, in the red tent. Shani robinson always had a dream of opening her own restaurant. The wives of jacob gather in the red tent, and in that image anita diamant has found the heart of a pulsing and moving novel. Also bedded are zilpah, a goddess worshipper who has little use for men, and tiny, dark, and silent bilhah. The red tent is very loosely based on the story of dinah in genesis, and it is a. When i was fifteen years old, my mothers book club read the red tent by anita diamant. The red tent by reading guidebook club discussion questions. Told in dinahs voice, this novel reveals the traditions and turmoils of ancient womanhood the world of the red tent. The red tent by anita diamant book club discussion questions.
Pick up book club copies from the service desk at the aurora hills branch library. The red tent by anita diamant goodreads share book. The novel, published in 1997, became a bookclub hit, and this. Featuring jack fellows, zak kamin, harrison greene, and desmond thorne. In the red tent dinahs story reaches out from a remarkable period of early history to create an intimate, immediate connection. Whether she knew it or not, i was reading along with her.
What do make of this story being told from beyond the grave. She is a minor character in the bible, but the author has broadened her story. The story imagines the life of dinah, a minor figure in the bible, who spends a lot of time in the tent of the title, a place where women go to. Like the conversations and mysteries held within this feminine tent, this sweeping piece of fiction offers an insiders look at the daily life of a biblical sorority of mothers and wives and their one and only daughter, dinah. But hey, check out our guide to the bible if youre into that. Bad all my girlfriends have heard me say that on more than one occasion. How many of us have felt the need to rest and used our period as a convenient. Like the conversations and mysteries held within this feminine tent, this sweeping piece of fiction offers an insiders look at the daily life of a biblical sorority of. In the bible, dinahs life is only hinted at in a brief and violent detour within the more familiar chapters of the book of genesis that are about her father, jacob, and his dozen sons. In the bible, her life is only hinted at in a brief and violent detour within the more familiar chapters of the book of genesis. In the bible, her life is only hinted at in a brief and violent detour within the more familiar chapters of the book of genesis that are about her father. The red tent is one of those extremely rare publishing phenomenonsa little promoted, but dynamically successful book over 250,000 copies sold that owes its success to enthusiastic wordofmouth endorsements. Jan 20, 2003 the book is not all bad, and not all silly.
Read genesis 34 and discuss how the red tent changes your perspective on dinahs story and also on the story of joseph that follows. Read the red tent 20th anniversary edition a novel by anita diamant available from rakuten kobo. The red tent by anita diamant tells the story of the biblical character dinah, jacobs daughter and josephs sister. The red tent is a novel by anita diamant, published in 1997 by wyatt books for st. In the red tent, anita diamant has taken these scant details of dinahs life and imagined them into an amazing narrative of what might have happened. Dec 06, 2014 men got the whole bible, and all women got was this red tent. Our reading guide for the red tent by anita diamant includes a book club.
Several people recommended it to me, so i bought it at my librarys used book sale in the spring. Diamant retells the story as the blending of two cultures and the desire of a woman to find love at any cost. A new view of the panorama of life in biblical times emerges from the female perspective, and the red tent itself becomes a symbol of womanly strength, love, and wisdom. The red tent tells the littleknown biblical story of dinah, daughter of the patriarch jacob and his wife, leah. The book s title refers to the tent in which women of jacob.
Fertility is central in the red tent s world, that of fields and river banks, of sheep and goats, of women and men life is marked by the rhythm of seasons, the waxing and waning of the moon, the cycles of women and the births and sometimes deaths of children the midwifes craft, which dinah learns and which will help ensure her survival. I wanted to ground the book in history, and it grew out of the second wave of feminism in the united states and around the world. Tabitha whissemore, president of the washington, dc chapter of the wnba, hosts meetings on the first thursday of every month. You just make sure that when those girls walk in that door every day, they. Men got the whole bible, and all women got was this red tent. The story behind the red tent the red tent drama channel. For many women the red tent is a sacred space, but it does not proclaim any one spiritual or. Not your mommas book club novel newts novels at night out on a tangent overbooked page of pages paradise of pursuit party girls peppy ladies popup pages r. Inside the red tent ebook christian book distributors. The story of dinah, a tragic character from the bible whose great love, a prince, is killed by her brother, leaving her alone and pregnant.
This is where the women of jacobs tribe must go when theyre menstruating, and its this red tent that is their precious sanctuary of womanhood in a time of unbending patriarchal might. She is best known for her novel, the red tent, a new york times best seller. The biblical story of dinah has often been overlooked, until anita diamants the red tent st. The red tent imagines the life of dinah the new york times. The red tent by anita diamant book club discussion. In the red tent, anita diamant brings this fascinating biblical character to vivid life. In the coming months we will read books that inspire us. For me, female bonding is empowering, powerful, and cathartic.
We see everything through dinahs eyes and that of her four mothers. Told in dinahs voice, anita diamant imagines the traditions and turmoils of ancient womanhoodthe world of the red tent. The red tent is a novel of biblical times and of the customs of those times, detailing the imagined lives of rachel and leah, two wives of jacob both true biblical figures and, subsequently, the imagined story of dinah, the daughter of leah, also a true biblical figure. Pea soup, which the characters in the book ate, and sandwiches on dark bread, a luxury they did not have the algonquin book club of scotch plains, new. Dinah has heard the history of how her mothers fell in love with the same man countless times and recounts her personalized version of the story. In chapter 34 of the book of genesis, dinahs tale is a short, horrific detour in the familiar narrative of jacob and joseph. You have to read it and tell me what you think my book club is reading it. The author does succeed in giving the reader some feel for life in an ancient culture, and for the experiences that are the same for all women at all times. Red tent book club is a womans reading group that centres loosely. In the red tent anita diamant brings the fascinating biblical character of dinah to vivid life her name is dinah. It begins with the story of dinahs mothersleah, rachel, zilpah, and bilhahthe four wives of jacob.
This is the first womans red tent book club meet up. Placed in the context of a book club, that question can be daunting. Although she hosted several private red tents at her home since april 2007. Eventbrite red tent book club presents red tent book club november edition monday, november 25, 2019 at wild wolfs yoga, bristol, england. Menstrual hut and moon lodge traditions show us that the red tent has a history. Told in the voice of jacobs daughter dinah who only received a glimpse of recognition in the book of genesis, we are privy to the fascinating. In the bible, dinahs story is only briefly mentioned. Reading guide for the red tent by anita diamant bookbrowse. The following author biography and list of questions about the red tent are intended as resources to aid individual readers and book groups who would like to learn more about the author and this book. Finally, a book that answers childhoods biggest question without any birds or bees in sight.
Mar 08, 2002 in the red tent anita diamant brings the fascinating biblical character of dinah to vivid life her name is dinah. This is the story about the journey of one woman born into a jewish family in the time of the bible. This one is a nobrainer for fans of historical or biblical fiction. The red tent, anita diamante gather your female friends and immerse yourselves in this believable account of womens lives in old testament biblical times, and enrich your fellowship with foods from the land of milk and honey. The book was to long and and repetitive especialily the first part of the story. The red tent 20th anniversary edition ebook by anita. The idea of a separate womens space or menstrual hut is not a new idea.
Anita diamant imaginatively tells the story from the fresh perspective of its women. D book club raging readers random names readers delight readers dozen reading between the wines reading enchantment reading for christ red hat queen book club red hat readers red tent. Reading guide for the red tent by anita diamant discussion guide for book. Rather than using an unnamed thirdperson narrator, diamant utilizes a figure immersed in the stories recounted in the red tent. If women rose rooted has been described as both transformative and essential. In fact, diamant asserted that the red tent grew out of the womens movement. In the bible, her life is only hinted at in a brief and violent detour within the more familiar chapters of the book of genesis that tell of her father, jacob, and his twelve sons. Simon and levi, two of her brothers, avenge dinah by killing all the. They love dinah and give her gifts that sustain her through childhood, a calling to midwifery, and a new home in a foreign.
The red tent club jewish federation of howard county. Dinah gets a tiny mention in the biblebut in the red tent, she gets an entire book. In the surprising bestselling book, the red tent by anita diamant, it appears that no may very well mean, yes. Anita diamant claims that the red tent in her book was fictionalized, but is rooted in research from africa. Dinahs life is a cautionary tale about the wonder and the awfulness of family. In the bible, her life is only hinted at in a brief and violent. In the red tent, we catch a glimpse of how four sisters married to the same man make it work.
After cursing her brothers and father she escapes to egypt, where she gives birth to a son. After reading anita diamants novel the red tent, you can finally answer that age old question. The red tent club is a series of educational programs, sponsored by fedwomen, the jewish federation of howard countys womens division. It begins with the story of the mothersleah, rachel, zilpah, and bilhah the four wives of jacob. The second half of the book, which takes place in egypt, is somewhat more convincing and less oppressiveperhaps because there is no more red tent. Dinah sometimes curses peopleand these people seem to feel the consequences. Dec 06, 2014 the red tent, a twopart adaptation of anita diamants novel about a biblical story, is being broadcast on sunday and monday on lifetime. In the bible her fate is merely hinted at in a brief and violent detour within the verses of the book of genesis that deal with jacob and his dozen sons. The red tent is the place where women gathered during their cycles of birthing, menses, and even illness. One neednt be religious or indeed even very familiar with bible stories in order to enjoy this book.
August bookclub discussion questions by the red tent, august 16, 2018 so, were halfway through our scheduled august book. Women have been working throughout history to claim their agency in. Red tent book club since 2001 the red tent, beth ors womens book club, has been meeting monthly. The red tent is an american television miniseries produced by paula weinstein and directed by roger young. In the red tent, dinah genuinely loves the prince and willingly becomes his bride. Red tent book club november edition tickets, mon, nov 25. Told in dinahs voice, this novel reveals the traditions and turmoil of ancient womanhoodthe world of the red tent. What strikes you about the cultural differences dinah encounters visavis food, clothing, work, and malefemale relationships. The book tells a wonderful tale of the voices that are missing from the bible. It is a firstperson narrative that tells the story of dinah, daughter of jacob and leah, sister of joseph. The red tent by anita diamant 1997 her name is dinah. Red tent book club january edition tickets, wed, jan 15. The novel traces her life from childhood to death, in the process examining sexual and religious practices of the day, and what it meant to be a woman. The book travels from haran contemporary iraqsyria, through canaan and into shechem israel, and into egypt.
Apr 1, 2016 the red tent reading guide book club discussion questions litlovers stay safe and healthy. In the bible her fate is merely hinted at in a brief and violent detour within the verses of the book of genesis that recount the life of jacob and his infamous dozen sons. The story says that dinah was raped by an egyptian prince. Take our free the red tent quiz below, with 25 multiple choice questions that help you test your knowledge. Told in dinahs voice, anita diamant imagines the traditions and turmoils of ancient womanhood the world of the red tent. With equal skill and passion, sandra hack polaski unravels the biblical story of leah, rachel, zilpah, bilhah, and leahs daughter dinah, probing aspects of the red tent that give us insight into the text and into the lives of women in the ancient near east.
The red tent is a fictional yet thoroughly researched firstperson account of the life of dinah, the only daughter of biblical patriarch jacob who is. One of the most interesting things we see in this epic story is the red tent itself. A decade after the publication of this hugely popular international bestseller, picador releases the tenth anniversary edition of the red tent. On their quest to get it in, the bros climb to new intellectual heights. Does the red tent raise questions about other women in the bible. The tent is red because of the falling sun, and because of the flowing blood. The red tent cafe in dousman to specialize in fish fries.
The series is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by anita diamant. The red tent, a twopart adaptation of anita diamants novel about a biblical. However, from many direct messages im getting, so many of you have loved it and finished it already. Determine which chapters, themes and styles you already know and what you need to study for your upcoming essay, midterm, or final exam. The first twohour episode premiered on lifetime on december 7, 2014. The red tent is very loosely based on the story of dinah in genesis, and it is a book that is very easy to read. It was interesting to read how the women lived in the book.
Author anita diamant, in the voice of dinah, gives an insiders look at the details. This is the second womans red tent book club meet up. The best book club picks including fiction, nonfiction, memoir. In the bible, her life is only hinted at in a brief and violent detour within the more familiar chapters of the book of genesis that are about her father, jacob, and his dozen sons. The red tent the red tent is a 1997 novel by anita diamant that builds a fictional exploration of a minor character in the judeochristian torahbible, dinah, a daughter of jacob and sister of.
The tent is, as the narrator says, an earthbound rainbow, which is also true of this novel. It is a novel, even though it may be based in fact. In the article she reflects on her own mothers approach of sitting it out and letting the daughters figure it out on their own. For more information, call the aurora hills branch library. The red tent by anita diamant the red tent by anita. Anita diamants the red tent has been on my radar since i read the boston girl earlier this year. She is horrified and griefstricken by her brothers murderous rampage. Mum did give me one tangible way to help, she said. The red tent cafe, a restaurant specializing in fish fries and soul food, will soon open in dousman.
The red tent reading guide book club discussion questions. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. I have referred it to half doz others and every one compliments. Told in dinahs voice, the novel reveals the traditions and turmoils of ancient womanhood the world of the red tent. Sharon blackie leads the reader on a quest to find their place in the world, drawing inspiration from the wise and powerful women in native mythology, and. The red tent is the feminist perspective of the story of dinah in the old testament.
In the bible, her life is only hinted at in a brief and violent detour within the more familiar chapt. The red tent book club kit douglas county libraries. I finally got around to reading it, and though i was expecting a bit of a grueling read its set in biblical times i was pleasantly surprised. We are studying the 1st 5 books of the old testament and this book fits right in giving a glimpse of the way the women of this period may have lived. The first public red tent hosted by deanna lam was in 2008.
The september book is the red tent by anita diamant. In the bible her fate is merely hinted at in a brief and violent detour within the verses of the book of genesis that recount the life of jacob and his. Mar 29, 2002 the novel in question is the red tent, and its modest but highly delighted author is anita diamant, an experienced american journalist who has also written several nonfiction guides to. In the red tent, we see dinah grow from childhood to old age. I read the red tent a few years ago, and a couple of times since,its one of my favorites. This detached point of view may also pertain to dinahs discussion in the prologue of offering her story to contemporary women who are interested in learning. Anita diamants hugely popular book focuses on the relationships and rituals between the four wives of jacob and and their daughter, dinah. Author bio birthjune 27, 1951 wherenew york, new york, usa educationb. Apr 1, 2016 the red tent reading guide book club discussion questions litlovers. Join us for a conversation of the highly anticipated lifetime miniseries the red tent, based on. The red tent book johnson county library bibliocommons. Deanna lam is another contributor to the red tent movement. We hope that this guide will provide you a starting place for discussion, and suggest a variety of perspectives from which you might approach the red tent.
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