| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Clare |
Posted - Aug 18 2005 : 6:52:57 PM
I happened across a paperback copy of The Red Tent by Anita Diamant today. It is in good condition, a little yellowish around the edges but other than that, good with no bent pages.
If you're not familiar with this favorite of women, especially mature women, here is a synopsis from the back cover:
"Told in Dinah's voice, this novel reveals the traditions and turmoil of ancient womanhood -- the world of the red tent. It begins with the story of her mothers--Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, and Bilhah--the four wives of Jacob. They love Dinah and give her gifts that are to sustain her through a hard-working youth, a calling to midwifery, and a new home in a foreign land. Dinah's story reaches out from a remarkable period of early history and creates an intimate, immediate connection. Deeply affecting, THE RED TENT combines rich storytelling with a valuable achievement in modern fiction: a new view of biblical women's society."
I have been deeply affected by this book and picked up this extra copy to share with all of you who are interested. I thought I would accummulate a list of interested people, then send it out, when they finish they can send it on to the next on the list. Media mail postage will be about $1.84.
If you'd like to be on the list, email me using the link (click on my name and you'll see the link to click on in my profile). Include your real name, member name, and complete mailing address. I'll leave the posting time open until next Wednesday, August 24, at 8pm Pacific. At that time I'll publish a list and send it out to the first person who contacts me. The list will go with the book, along with your address. Please try to adhere to a 3 week maximum time to read the book and get it posted on to the next on the list.
Happy, enriching women's reading, girls (and guys)!
**** Love is the great work - though every heart is first an apprentice. - Hafiz
Set a high value on spontaneous kindness. - Samuel Johnson****
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| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| KarenP |
Posted - Oct 15 2005 : 05:21:50 AM
Hello all!
I'm about 3/4 done with the red tent, and enjoying the story.
I normally read alot of non-fiction so this has been a nice change of pace for me. I'm glad I read about the book here, it piqued my interest.
If anyone would like to borrow it when I'm finished, just e-mail me and I send it to you.
KarenP
"Purest Spring Water in the World" |
| ByHzGrace |
Posted - Oct 04 2005 : 5:48:16 PM
The agony and the ecstasy?
What would you have said to Zilpah?
What about the smileyfrog opening rite? Isn't it one of the teraphim Jacob should have axed?
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| MeadowLark |
Posted - Oct 02 2005 : 9:45:39 PM
Why was Rachael silent after her time in the wedding tent with Jacob, and why did she immediately crawl to the Red Tent after her time in the tent with him? There was always some mystery attached to their relationship.
If I keep a green bough in my heart, the singing bird will come. |
| mdotterer |
Posted - Oct 02 2005 : 6:58:08 PM
I finished The Red Tent a couple of weeks ago and mailed it off to the next person. You're all quite right - it's a great book. I thought it was interesting how she addressed conflicts between the women regarding the changes in religion happening in the land. I guess, due to the rise of monotheism, this era is when we started losing knowledge of the various goddesses and the power and cycles of life in the planet. Leah and the others tried to keep it alive but lost out to their daughters-in-law. Rebekah tried to keep it alive, but her method was pretty strict and she seemed to turn into a sour old woman. Who would want to continue that kind of life?
I've always known about the story of Dinah, but I never thought about what happened to her. This was a great way to imagine her life and very realistic. It took a lifetime to heal from her brothers' crime and she carried the pain and consequences of that forever. But, she did heal and found love and fullfilment both in helping her community and with her new husband. I think that's what we all try to do. |
| Clare |
Posted - Sep 03 2005 : 5:15:00 PM
You are a very fast reader, Aunt Jenny!! Glad you enjoyed it, and yes, it does make one think on things that they don't usually contemplate. That's probably it's biggest selling point.
**** Love is the great work - though every heart is first an apprentice. - Hafiz
Set a high value on spontaneous kindness. - Samuel Johnson****
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| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Sep 03 2005 : 5:11:11 PM
Finished "The Red Tent" last night..well, actually early morning today!! I sure liked it alot. It sure makes me appreciate all I have and how my life, although not always easy or perfect sure is without big huge tradgedy!! And I loved the beginning when all the mothers and Dinah were so happy. I am so glad I read it! Very different than most books I read. I will start "The Mermaid Chair" next.
sending off the red tent book to the next person on Tuesday!!! Thanks Clare!!
Jenny in Utah
The best things in life arn't things |
| RobinSong |
Posted - Aug 31 2005 : 06:49:46 AM
I will be attending a "Red Tent" Party in early in September. It is a celebration of each of us as women. I have read "The Red Tent" and will begin a re-read today. As we all celebrate our stength of spirit, the stength of integrity, the strength of character, let us be mindful of our Creator who planned for us as women to bear each other up, to encourage each other and have that huge capacity for love! I am awed by the favor of God.
Celebrate our Power and Joy! |
| ByHzGrace |
Posted - Aug 31 2005 : 06:26:20 AM
Clare I may not be understanding what you believe Jacob did? I don't understand how do you see Joseph betray his sister? Because of his suggestion of circumsions?
Jacob did not ok Levi and Simon decisions. They were the ones who had originally gone to Shemchem and got the land with what was supposed to contain a well for their sheep.They felt swindled when it was dry. Jacob only wanted to make more souls for his God and he thought by them becoming circumcised the city would then be in his tribe.
I thought Rebecca Dinah's Grandmother showed how everything was handed down on Jacob’s side of the family? What about how only the sons were taught the ways of "my father's God", while the women were left to worship in the ways of their mothers? |
| ByHzGrace |
Posted - Aug 31 2005 : 06:07:46 AM
I thought I wrote this last night oh well I will try again. I pondered the stories from Moms because Dinah says Mothers want daughters to keep their memories alive. I have sons. My Mom lost her mother at an early age, likewise my Daddy lost his father, so remembering is a holy thing.
I remember how Mom had us all take our own strands of this rope and braid them together while we talked and prayed about our hopes for each other. The hope rope was always the first and last thing out of our homes when we moved.
Did you make up or sing the same lullabyes your mom sing to your families? I made up songs for mine using their names so they would learn them and my voice the first night they were born.
What songs do you remember the most from childhood?
My Daddy's ooey gooey was a worm is my fav. |
| Clare |
Posted - Aug 30 2005 : 09:17:36 AM
Yes, Molly. Correct assumption. Sent those out in a flurry. Sorry! Happy reading, Girls!
**** Love is the great work - though every heart is first an apprentice. - Hafiz
Set a high value on spontaneous kindness. - Samuel Johnson****
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| mollymae |
Posted - Aug 30 2005 : 08:51:43 AM
Clare, I received the book from you today! I can't wait to start reading it! There is a label with Kay's name and one with yours, so I send it to Kay and then she sends it to you?? 
Cead Mile Failte,
Molly
"This is love: to fly toward a secret sky, to cause a hundred veils to fall each moment. First to let go of life. Finally, to take a step without feet."~Rumi
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| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Aug 29 2005 : 8:33:20 PM
What a wonderful memory Erik. My mom wasn't the story telling type really, (or the singing type for sure) I think she suffered with depression alot when I was a kid...but she would never admit that I know. I tend to be a glass half full sort of person and I took her complaining about her childhood on a dairy farm (JERSEY COWS!) and took the parts I thought were neat and she hated and turned them around and thought she was so lucky. I loved to hear my grandma tell stories about growing up during the depression and moving with all the other "Okies" from Oklahoma to Calif "grapes of wrath style". She was so positive about it that I learned alot and respected her so much. She was the oldest of 12 children and was about 17 when they made the move.
Clare..the Red Tent book got here today..hooray. I will finish up " The education of Little Tree" tonight and start on it tomorrow..can't wait!
Thanks for the chance to borrow it!
Jenny in Utah
The best things in life arn't things |
| Clare |
Posted - Aug 29 2005 : 6:34:40 PM
Sounds like magical childhood memories, Erik. Cherish them! Being seduced to life, now that idea has crossed my mind more than once... wondering and wondering about it.
**** Love is the great work - though every heart is first an apprentice. - Hafiz
Set a high value on spontaneous kindness. - Samuel Johnson****
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| goalieboy |
Posted - Aug 29 2005 : 6:27:54 PM
I forgot that my Dad told stories. Pretty much every night. He would make stuff up, always at bedtime, usually featuring a family pet who suddenly could fly or skate or talk and would get lost or get involved in some tricky situation.
I remember my Ma would sing at bedtime. There are real vivid memories of situations like a party going on in the living room and she would come into my bedroom and sing lullabyes. I think that's why i came here to this planet, she seduced me to life with a song.
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| Clare |
Posted - Aug 29 2005 : 1:05:54 PM
I had to contemplate your question awhile, Ellen. My mother is not the nostalgic, story telling type, so there are very few stories from her side of the family. I do have some nice, warm memories from stories that my dad told, and I still hold them close and dear to my heart. And he had favorite songs that he liked to sing and play on the harmonica and I when I hear those songs I automatically associate them with my dad.
Regarding your questions about Jacob... thinking back on it, he "allowed" these things to happen by refusing to say no, didn't he? And how could Joseph betray his sister, with whom he grew up with so closely? It's all a very confusing lot to consider. Erik may be right in that the author is tweaking us with contorted emotions amongst this tribe. Hmmm... more things to contemplate.
**** Love is the great work - though every heart is first an apprentice. - Hafiz
Set a high value on spontaneous kindness. - Samuel Johnson****
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| goalieboy |
Posted - Aug 29 2005 : 11:12:44 AM
i don't remember the stories but i remember the songs. |
| ByHzGrace |
Posted - Aug 29 2005 : 05:41:28 AM
Been wondering what stories did your moms tell you to keep their memories alive? |
| ByHzGrace |
Posted - Aug 28 2005 : 09:17:15 AM
I know Dinah is all bitter hating on her Father but Jacob didn't do the deed. Wasn't his sons Levi and Simon? I remember reading Jacob didn't let his thoughts be known. He couldn't even make a decision with out the boys. jacob let Joseph's idea be done thinking Jacob was following the prohesy of Abram and Rebecca to be a maker of souls to his God? Levi and Simon didn't even like Joseph's decision because they thought if they were just like Hamor and Shecham, their families would not be more then shepherds. Then Levi and Simon snuck off in the dark to the city to get even for seeing their only little sister being made into a whore. |
| goalieboy |
Posted - Aug 26 2005 : 8:44:35 PM
Yeah, Ellen, i agree. Jacob's character was built so endearingly, so i never really got his motivation for doing something so awful. I don't think it was plausable. Perhaps the author wished to illustrate how violently ingrained patriarchy can be. |
| goalieboy |
Posted - Aug 25 2005 : 12:27:03 PM
Geeze, i'm sorry. I forgot my email is incorrect for the forum and there doesn't seem to be a way to fix it. I'll mail you again since we're not supposed to publish them here at the site. |
| Kim |
Posted - Aug 25 2005 : 08:21:48 AM
Erik, I tried to respond to your e-mail but I keep getting a fatal error message.
farmgirl@heart
Be at peace with yourself and the rest will follow |
| Kim |
Posted - Aug 25 2005 : 07:59:13 AM
Ok, got my book last night and I have started reading it!!
farmgirl@heart
Be at peace with yourself and the rest will follow |
| MeadowLark |
Posted - Aug 24 2005 : 8:24:57 PM
I had such viceral reactions to my daughters births, emergency c-sections. Eldest turns 23 in October. I remember seeing a fountain of blood shoot up in my doctors face when he opened me up and he yelled about a bleeder. Then my daughters cries. I felt like I had crossed a huge bridge over an endlessly deep gorge onto the other side, which was motherhood. My tears were refreshing and soothing as I held her.
Being is what it is. Jean Paul Sartre |
| Clare |
Posted - Aug 24 2005 : 8:08:59 PM
Okay, you 4, you know who you are! The two books are in the mail tomorrow. When you're done you can return them to me, or if someone else expresses an interest, send them on.
**** Love is the great work - though every heart is first an apprentice. - Hafiz
Set a high value on spontaneous kindness. - Samuel Johnson****
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| thehouseminder |
Posted - Aug 24 2005 : 7:12:58 PM
I am going to Try to read this again and finish it this time. I bought it when it was first published and was so horrified at the treatment of Dinah's lover and his people that I put it aside. It's not like I hadn't already read the story in my Bible but Diamant really put a human face on all of the players. It really is a richly woven story, but as you say, deeply affecting. I hadn't cried that hard over a book since I read "Where the Red Fern Grows" in sixth grade.
Lucinda
Who loves a garden still his Eden keeps, Perennial pleasures plants, and wholesome harvest reaps. ---Bronson Alcott
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