THE RED TENT, by Anita Diamant

Literature -- 5 stars



In the book of Genesis, Dinah is mentioned only as an afterthought in the story of her father, Jacob, and his twelve sons.  Here, Ms. Diamant imagines Dinah's voice to tell the story of her world, a time of religious and sexual practices that rule her life and that of her mothers.  It is a story of love and caring between women, and of male dominance that leads to unspeakable tragedy and, eventually the rise of her half brother, Joseph, in the biblical time of Egypt. ----- I am ashamed that I waited this long to read this book originally published twenty-two years ago.  While Dinah is largely imagined, the history of this civilization is as informative as it is moving.  A book to savor.