Our 5th choice for the Working the Machine book club, we’re now on Anna’s pick. This was a work of historical fiction based on the Book of Genesis in the Bible, following Jacob’s daughter Dinah’s through her journey, slightly altered from its original text. Whereas the Bible describes Dinah as being raped by an Egyptian prince; The Red Tent has them lay for love and after the betrayal of the twins Simon and Levi, Dinah leaves and continues her life as an Egyptian handmaiden and mother.
This is another book I would have never picked up without a book club suggestion. It’s cool that the choices have expanded what I read, it’s given me more perspectives and all the books have been good so far.
The Red Tent is primarily focused on the women’s perspective of Biblical times, which is not something you hear that much about. It candidly described the monthly cycle culture which was surprisingly fascinating. It’s interesting that the moon could regulate periods and that the women would collectively gather for three days of rest in a red tent [!]. Also births and birthing knowledge was highly valued in a time when women couldn’t control when they were pregnant and childbearing was a dangerous and deadly process.
The women are spoken with reverence, as Dinah can see each of their capabilities and flaws with clarity. It’s a refreshing narrative to have a tribe of powerful and interesting characters that are mainly women. While I have read plenty of books that give women interesting depth, most books seem to have women as either love interests or the main characters. Instead The Red Tent is defined by is strong combination of women characters. Even, as I just noticed, every child born except Dinah is a son. That and the fact the Bible originally gives Dinah no story of her own, should explain the Holy Text’s narrative bias.
Sexism is obviously one of the main points of this story. I think the text tries to keep a generally neutral tone to the gender issues, and uses the historical context itself highlight any differences. For example, all of the marriages and rampant polygamy is clearly discriminatory. Jacob, as poor as he is, continues to have all the possession of the property and control of his many wives. Even the proposals for marriage, the Father and Jacob use the women as hardly more than bargaining chips.
The control over women’s health is actually stronger in this fantasy than in modern times [I stand with PP because 1) they do a lot of good, including but definitely way beyond abortions and 2) wtf, we have actual healthcare difficulties, why we even fighting about PP funding anymore? Single Payer. Government Option. Price gouging. Something gotta be more important to debate over right??] Though they are lacking modern medicine, the strong line that defines women’s control over their health is metaphorically represented by the line of the red tent, and literally over their presence, mutual support, and shared knowledge over birthing.
Weaving and cooking are skills that also remain in the women’s domain, used to compare and compete [with meeting with the Jacob’s brother’s family] and be profitable [with the weaving].
There is no attempt by either sex to change roles, although I remember one brother being his aunt’s assistant and later her lover? That’s some of that weird biblical shit. [Glasses Morty would love that shit]
Knowledge is key in this book. From the duma lessons to the weaving to the line about learning each other’s histories; all the knowledge, passed fathers to sons, mothers to daughters, women to women, highlights how the culture was once about personal mentoring more than learning. Emphasized by how the author points out that the birth of Dinah was a great relief to their family, as daughters learn their mother’s stories.
The women themselves are occasionally petty and no great allies to each other. Rachael and Leah have such arguments over Jacob that they don’t forgive each other for long stretches. When Jacobs’ tribe meets his brother’s, the women are comparative and guarded, particularly when they are cooking.
Are the tribes people Jewish? The idols they steal don’t seem to be monotheistic, and obviously Jacob is a follower of Christ. However, I guess I’m not familiar enough with the times to understand how/if they are describing Judiasm.
We discussed circumcision as literal genital mutilation, a point this book highlights painfully, with the adult men who have to partake for Dinah’s hand in marriage being bedridden for three days and weak enough to be caught off guard and murdered. Which is to say, wtf modern Americans. You’re literally chopping dick off your kids! Weird religious stuff passing as normal stuff. Anyone wanna chop off any other part of themselves? Earlobes? Noses? Tips of your fingers in case you need extra luck? Thought so.
And then one criticism I had was that for all the focus on childbirth [honestly some of the most gripping and interesting points. Also cool that even with multiple births being witnessed and very important, they weren’t repetitive from a readers’ perspective, which is a credit to the author] Dinah seems to have very little to do with the actual raising of any children. That’s definitely true of her own son, but even the daughter Kati that she “adopts” already raised and more apprenticed if anything. I wonder why, especially because the births are so vivid and well written, the author spends little time on the motherhood part of being/becoming a mother. Maybe it was purposeful? As to go against the general stereotype of Mothers as necessarily good care givers? I don’t know. Didn’t love that stylistic choice.
I’m glad Dinah found love. I’m glad she confronted her brother and father. I think she had true friends and allies and mentors and mothers. The redhead messenger was a cool plot point.
Overall this was a great read. I lament that I don’t have the Biblical background to grasp everything, but I don’t think it was necessary to enjoy the book. It’s offers a cool and uncommon perspective by having a plethora of interesting women characters and focusing on women’s health and motherhood. The book club discussion was fun, always one of my favorite times, but I do wish we had a tad more diversity. For all the expansiveness of the booklist, the reflections aren’t nearly as varied. I hope we can add some members and address that.
I’ll give a 4.17/5.00 Definitely worth reading, unique in it’s focus and characters. I think I may have missed some of the nuances as I’ve never read the Bible. Some very well written passages lent to a good flow and pace. Interesting perspectives on women’s health and their histories. I thought it may have missed an opportunity to expand on Dinah’s experiences raising a child.