Fact or Fiction- Book 16

The latest book on my list was The Red Tent by Anita Diamant. This is the story of the life of Dinah, daughter of Leah and Jacob. Jacob is most often remembered as the Father of Joseph (aka Joseph and the Amazing Technicolored Dream Coat) In the Bible Jacob and Leah do have a daughter named Dinah. A daughter who is taken by a man of great wealth who after sleeping with her wishes to claim her as his wife. Her brothers, 2 in particular, are outraged that he would disgrace her is this way and request that her Father along with the dowry request that the men be circumcised. The man loves her so much that he agrees, and all the men of the city are commanded to do this as well. The Bible then goes on to tell us that her brothers take further action against the men and that Dinah leaves the city and lives the rest of her days with her brother Judah and his family. That is the Bible, the truth of the story.

This story is based on characters of the Bible, but then greatly deviates into a fictional world. It is important to realize this because unfortunately many people read fiction based on the Bible and then believe the Bible to be to also be fiction. It is not. It is God's Word, that has stood the test of time and will continue to do so. This story is a good story, it takes known characters and gives them a life outside of what is read in the Bible. It gives us a picture of life in biblical times, that revolve around the Red Tent or the tent where the women would go during their monthly cycle when they were considered unclean and needed to be set apart. It was an entertaining story, that for me made me go back and read the parts in the Bible discussing these people to see what is real and what is fictional. Even the author states that the book is NOT a translation but a work of fiction. It is a book about the relationships of the females during this time period, their relationship with the men in their lives, the complications of multiple wives and raising of the children. In the reading group guide at the end of the book the author states that she felt the story of Dinah needed an explanation so "I decided to imagine one"
If you want a captivating story, with names you may be well aware of from reading the Bible this is a good story to read. Just be aware that it is FICTION, God's truth and his word is real, and this book may be confusing for someone who is not fully aware of the actual account in the Bible.