I just finished reading this book. It was recommended by my sister who read it while she was pregnant.
This is how the author describes the book on her website
www.anitadiamant.com "The Red Tent retells the story of Dinah, which is found in the Biblical book of Genesis, Chapter 34. This episode, usually known as the "Rape of Dinah" has been a difficult passage for bible readers for centuries because of the murderous behavior of Jacob's sons. In Genesis, Dinah does not say a single word; what happens to her is recounted and characterized as rape by her brothers. In my retelling of the story, Dinah finds her voice. The Red Tent is told entirely from her perspective and the point of view of the women around her.
The Red Tent is historical fiction, but because it is based on a story in the Bible, many readers feel an extraordinary connection to its cast of characters, whose names and tales are part of our culture, and our families, too. After all, many of us have parents named Jacob or Rachel, and many of us have children named Joseph or Leah."
I REALLY enjoyed this book, not only because it is about and in the voice of the women of the time but it also deals a lot with birth and midwifery. It also has many themes about mothers, motherhood and what that entails (both good and bad). You really come to connect with Dinah and really get into the story that it seems she is able to tell for the first time. Whether you are familiar with the biblical references or not does not influence how great this book is. I highly recommend it to anyone especially mothers and mothers-to-be.
