My 'Red Tent' Review

I don't want to give too much away here- so much that you don't feel the need to read it yourself. However I wish I had some background knowledge of the book before I read it. My hope is that you will be inspired to read it yourself- It would make a good summer read.
The author is Anita Diamant. Who I believe is Jewish and has written several books on 'being a good Jew' and other such topics related to Judaism. So she appears to have some knowledge of the Old Testament and those ancient cultures. The book however is a work of fiction with some historical 'truths' mixed in. These stories and truths that are in the OT make up the first parts of the novel. The second half is that of Dinah's life away from her family- the part we never hear about in the Bible. So she is able to speculate and weave a story.
I thought the book was about sexuality and intimate relationships in the Bible. And it is, but more specifically about the story of Jacob, Leah, Rachel, and Dinah. I had no idea what the 'red tent' was. I thought maybe it was where the husband and wife laid together. But alas, it is not! The red tent is where the women would go when they have their menses and give birth. Interesting, huh? According to this author the ladies would eat sweet cakes and sit over straw. For about 3 days they would do nothing but pamper each other in that red tent. Only nursing children were allowed in. Not all women would do this supposedly, but these Canaanite women that are in Leah and Rachel's lineage did. I think they had the right idea on that one, albeit not very practical.
I also found it interesting to hear how Jacob obtained his wives and more about who they were. All thru Dinah's point of view and her remembrances of the stories her 'mothers' told her.
Rachel was young, about 14 I think when Jacob came along and Leah a couple years older. In this novel Rachel is actually 'tricked' into essentially giving her bridal night and husband to Leah, out of fear of intimacy. Rachel realizes later that she was ignorant to the ways of man and wife and thus becomes his second and beloved wife. As was custom, each wife came with a dowry and those were Leah and Rachel's half sisters. Their handmaidens so to speak. Zilpah and Bilhah become his third and fourth wives. It's easy to see how Jacob could have 12 sons!!
I like how the author brought life to each of these wives and showed each of their personalities.
Midwifery has always been an interest of mine, I could see myself becoming a doula one day, when my womb is closed. Rachel and Dinah become great midwives in this novel and I enjoyed hearing birth stories in detail. I didn't however enjoy hearing about babies born with cleft palates or other defects, being left out in the wilderness to die.
I was surprised at the extensive mention of false Gods and idols. Jacob and Isaac are the only ones who seem to worship El (short for Elohim). All the women worship idols and every chapter is loaded with them. I could have done without all the repetitious mention of them. But I see she was just trying to show the religious reality of the times- as she thinks it could have been.
The other thing I could have done without was the implication that Joseph was a bisexual. Married to a woman, at least one, but traveled with an entourage of handsome young men that he had eyes for.
I learned that Dinah was in fact not raped as the way we know 'rape' to be today. She was actually in love with the Egyptian prince that made her his bride. I turned my Bible open to Genesis ch 34 "The defiling of Dinah" and reread her brief story there. The prince loved her too and sent Jacob a handsome bride price, which he sent back. Her two brothers Simeon and Levi were consumed with greed. That was their motive behind the murders. A tragic love story...
Reminding me of Romeo and Juliet.
I'm going to stop here as to not give away the ending.
But not without first saying, Dinah does eventually find happiness!
Which 'made' the book for me. I love a happy ending...