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Reading Room:  The Red Tent - a book round robin  |
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ByHzGrace
True Blue Farmgirl
348 Posts
348 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 24 2005 : 12:20:57 PM
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Is Jacob all that? What about when Jacob said:
**Isaac, my father, sighed and told me that he had never taken any woman to his bed but my mother, even though she had only given him two sons early in their marriage. Rebecca had welcomed him with tenderness and passion when they first were married because as her groom he treated her as though she were the Queen of Heaven and he her consort. Their coupling was the coupling of the sea and the sky, of the rain and the parched earth. Of night and day, wind and water.
Their nights were filled with stars and sighs as they played the part of goddess and god. Their touches engendered a thousand dreams. They slept in each other’s arms every night, except when it was her time for the red tent, or when she gave suck to her sons. **
Isn't this him saying what he sees as knows to be tenderhearted? |
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thehouseminder
True Blue Farmgirl
361 Posts
USA
361 Posts |
Posted - Aug 24 2005 : 7:12:58 PM
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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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Clare
True Blue Farmgirl
2173 Posts
NC WA State
USA
2173 Posts |
Posted - Aug 24 2005 : 8:08:59 PM
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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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MeadowLark
True Blue Farmgirl
2206 Posts
USA
2206 Posts |
Posted - Aug 24 2005 : 8:24:57 PM
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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 |
Edited by - MeadowLark on Aug 24 2005 8:27:48 PM |
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Kim
True Blue Farmgirl
146 Posts
Kim
Pflugerville
Texas
USA
146 Posts |
Posted - Aug 25 2005 : 07:59:13 AM
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Ok, got my book last night and I have started reading it!!
farmgirl@heart
Be at peace with yourself and the rest will follow |
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Kim
True Blue Farmgirl
146 Posts
Kim
Pflugerville
Texas
USA
146 Posts |
Posted - Aug 25 2005 : 08:21:48 AM
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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 |
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goalieboy
True Blue Farmgirl
69 Posts
erik
moscow
id
USA
69 Posts |
Posted - Aug 25 2005 : 12:27:03 PM
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| 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. |
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goalieboy
True Blue Farmgirl
69 Posts
erik
moscow
id
USA
69 Posts |
Posted - Aug 26 2005 : 8:44:35 PM
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| 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. |
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ByHzGrace
True Blue Farmgirl
348 Posts
348 Posts |
Posted - Aug 28 2005 : 09:17:15 AM
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| 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. |
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ByHzGrace
True Blue Farmgirl
348 Posts
348 Posts |
Posted - Aug 29 2005 : 05:41:28 AM
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| Been wondering what stories did your moms tell you to keep their memories alive? |
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goalieboy
True Blue Farmgirl
69 Posts
erik
moscow
id
USA
69 Posts |
Posted - Aug 29 2005 : 11:12:44 AM
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| i don't remember the stories but i remember the songs. |
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Clare
True Blue Farmgirl
2173 Posts
NC WA State
USA
2173 Posts |
Posted - Aug 29 2005 : 1:05:54 PM
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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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Edited by - Clare on Aug 29 2005 1:08:16 PM |
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goalieboy
True Blue Farmgirl
69 Posts
erik
moscow
id
USA
69 Posts |
Posted - Aug 29 2005 : 6:27:54 PM
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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
True Blue Farmgirl
2173 Posts
NC WA State
USA
2173 Posts |
Posted - Aug 29 2005 : 6:34:40 PM
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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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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Aug 29 2005 : 8:33:20 PM
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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 |
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mollymae
True Blue Farmgirl
694 Posts
Molly
Visalia
California
USA
694 Posts |
Posted - Aug 30 2005 : 08:51:43 AM
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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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Clare
True Blue Farmgirl
2173 Posts
NC WA State
USA
2173 Posts |
Posted - Aug 30 2005 : 09:17:36 AM
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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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ByHzGrace
True Blue Farmgirl
348 Posts
348 Posts |
Posted - Aug 31 2005 : 06:07:46 AM
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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. |
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ByHzGrace
True Blue Farmgirl
348 Posts
348 Posts |
Posted - Aug 31 2005 : 06:26:20 AM
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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? |
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RobinSong
Farmgirl at Heart
2 Posts
Kathy
Bloomington
IL
USA
2 Posts |
Posted - Aug 31 2005 : 06:49:46 AM
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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! |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Sep 03 2005 : 5:11:11 PM
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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 |
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Clare
True Blue Farmgirl
2173 Posts
NC WA State
USA
2173 Posts |
Posted - Sep 03 2005 : 5:15:00 PM
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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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mdotterer
True Blue Farmgirl
78 Posts
Marlene
Pleasant Hill
CA
USA
78 Posts |
Posted - Oct 02 2005 : 6:58:08 PM
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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. |
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MeadowLark
True Blue Farmgirl
2206 Posts
USA
2206 Posts |
Posted - Oct 02 2005 : 9:45:39 PM
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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. |
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ByHzGrace
True Blue Farmgirl
348 Posts
348 Posts |
Posted - Oct 04 2005 : 5:48:16 PM
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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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Reading Room: The Red Tent - a book round robin |
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The Red Tent - a book round robin
