The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

The Skinny

Score: 85%

Biblical women are given a depth and strength that's not always on display in the bible. Not the most sizzling read, but the slow pace allows for thoughtful introspection and depth. Historical fiction as moving human drama.

The Meat:

This is a fantastic imagining of the lives of women during the time period of the Book of Genesis.

It demonstrates how women can carve out a slice of power in a patriarchal society-- even though their roles were strictly defined by convention, that convention also allowed for them to play in important, if secondary role.

No one who reads this would think that it's ok for women to be subjugated in the manner that the book portrays, but it is an inspiration to see how the characters in the book handle the cards they've been dealt.

The book is extremely nuanced, exploring all manner of familial and societal issues while maintaining an intensely personal focus. The setting is so richly detailed, and so exotic, that it warrants the effort of reading by itself.

The writing itself has a matter-of-fact, flattish tone, which I found to be quite enjoyable. It wasn't as lean and fast-paced as it could have been, but it did succeed in evoking the "flavor" of the bible, which is a neat trick when writing a modern novel.

As a white american atheist male, I suspect I'm not the target audience for this "biblical chick-flick on paper," but I truly enjoyed it, and wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who enjoys heady, thoughtful books.

The Fat:

$8.95 for the paperback new, or you can buy it used for one red cent:

Buy The Red Tent from Amazon here