The Red Tent

So prior to me starting at the library the book club there had read The Red Tent by Anita Diamant. Based on the discussion I was happy to have missed it-a book about women and their periods, really? Not that the topic makes me uncomfortable, I just couldn’t see it being a good story.

And then I won a copy from one of my favorite book blogs: Book Club Classics. But even then it sat on my book shelf for months. As I asked people about the book too many good reports have come my way about this book, and I like historical fiction. Plus, having recently read Lamb by Christopher Moore I am intrigued by seeing biblical characters as real humans.

This story is a powerful story of sisterhood, of love, of trauma, but primarily of womanhood. At the end of this book I have never felt so proud to be a woman as I had after reading this book- we are strong, we are versatile, we are talented, we are smart, and yet we feel, we’re compassionate, we are human and goddess.

Even the portrayal of worshipping, of sacrfices, of customs and rituals did not seem as archaic and savage as tribal rituals are often portrayed in modern literature. I felt a longing for a ritual around the time where we become women instead of a clinical sex talk-now you can get pregnant and you’re going to be awkward and moody once a month for most of the rest of your life- congrats, because teenagehood isn’t awkward enough. In the book it was a right of passage, something you waited for and longed for, something that made you important. What a powerful concept.

The other interesting thing that I still haven’t sorted out is the character of Joseph in the book. I wanted him so much to be loyal to Dinah throughout their lives. And I am still not sure I understand his character. Perhaps that is because I didn’t understand nor do I, the difference between women and men in that time. It is hard to when contrasting the sons of Jacob with Shalem. Shalem is a man of modern times. Perhaps that is why his story goes the way it does. BAH! Writing deeply about this is difficult when I don’t want to ruin the story!

It is a wonderfully moving book and I encourage all of you women out there to read it and celebrate being a woman!