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Books & Literature
The
Book Worm: Times Out of Life
.The Red Tent is the place where the women gather during their cycles of menses, birthing, and illnesses. It is the place where stories are told, myths are perpetuated, and traditions are passed down. It is the place where thoughts and feelings are shared, where women comfort one another, and where they celebrate themselves. In The Red Tent, a provocative and imaginative tale from Anita Diamant, Jacob, grandson of Abraham, returns to his mother's land to seek a wife. He fathers twelve sons with two wives, Leah and Rachel, as well as two maidservants, Zelpah and Belhah. Anita Diamant, of writing The Red Tent, says, "The Biblical story that pits the two sisters against one another never sat right with me. The traditional view of Leah as the ugly/and or spiteful sister, and of Jacob as indifferent to her seemed odd in light of the fact that the Bible gives them nine children together. ... As I reread Genesis over the years, I settled on the story of Dinah, their daughter. The drama and her total silence cried out for explanation and I decided to imagine one." To write her story, Ms. Diamant uses the tradition of the Midrash. The Midrash, which means "search" or "investigation," is a collection of stories used by the Rabbis to explain the often cryptic and sometimes confusing statements in the Bible. The stories enhance, simplify, give meaning, and teach many sections of the Bible. Of Jacob's twelve children, then, Dinah is the only daughter, from Leah. It is in the Red Tent, where she is allowed at an early age, that she quickly learns of the secrets, the skills, and of the idol worship of her mother and aunts. It is here that she hears many accounts of birthing. Rachel teaches her the techniques and secrets of mid-wifery; about the herbs to use, the words to say, the encouragement to give, and the compassion to feel for the women they help. Dinah becomes a willing and accomplished apprentice to Rachel. At her time of puberty she makes a trip to Canaan, experiencing the first scent of a river. It was "the first time I heard women's voices and men's voices raised in song together. ... We joined the men in the work of watering the herd, they helped us unpack for the morning meal. We listened to them sing herding songs. ... They heard our spinning songs, which we sang as we walked and worked wool with small spindles. ... It was times out of life. It was like a dream." In Canaan she meets her cold and aloof grandmother, Rebecca. It is here that she celebrates the rites of puberty, and it is here that she falls in love with the Prince, Shalem. Although the Bible talks of the "rape" of Dinah, Diamant fictionalizes this episode. When the Prince asks to marry Dinah, her brothers extort from him a huge sum of money, and insist on the circumcision of the men of the city as a bride price. After the deal is completed, two irate brothers, Levi and Simon, jealous that the price could be met, sensed that their own positions would be diminished. "Jacob's house would be swallowed up in the dynasties of Shechem." In the night, they slay the Prince and every man in the city. Re-nefer, the Egyptian queen and mother of the Prince, rescues Dinah. Dinah, alienated forever from her tribe and pregnant, is forced to flee to Egypt with Re-nefer. The book traces her flight to Egypt, where she bears a son. He is taken from her by Re-nefer to be brought up as a prince. At the age of nine, he is sent away to school, which essentially ends her relationship with him. Dinah becomes a noted mid-wife. Living much of her time in seclusion, in her garden in Egypt, she finally finds some peace. But the strength of the book lies in telling this biblical story from a modern woman's point of view. Its perspective about the female characters gives them a voice, empowering them with a depth and substance that the Bible usually ignores. The characters of Rachel, Belhah, Leah, and Zilpah -- Dinah's "mothers" -- are rendered with the same attributes, foibles, sensitivities, and problems that have faced women throughout history. The book succeeds in its intent: The descriptions are vivid; the women in the Red Tent are passionate and strong; and, through Dinah, and Anita Diamant, we can applaud them. . ******* ******* We're thinking about making a Best Books list {see our first Best Books survey and results in Back Issues ...}an on-going feature here at DownStreet. In addition, we'd like to hear from more book clubs in the area, whether open to new members or not. Either way, we'd like to publish your reading lists, both here in the magazine, or in our Community Pages. If your book club or reading group is interested in participating, please e-mail us at ... Let us know the name, if any, of your club or group, how many members and if you're open to new members, and where and when you meet. Finally, don't forget tell us about your recent or up-coming reading list. . ******* ******* If you'd like to submit a book review, whether of a new title or something past, please e-mail us at books@downstreetmagazine.com. The e-mail should contain your name, address, and a phone number where we can reach you. You may also send a copy of your proposed review. The text can either be included in the body of the e-mail, or you can send it as an attachment in just about any word processing format. Please be sure to include information for the title, author and publisher/edition. ... If your review is accepted, we will pay a small honorarium for your interest & your time. [See Freelancers Wanted for more details.] If you would like to advertise in this section, or throughout the magazine, please visit our Advertising Info Pages ... or call, write, or e-mail ads@downstreetmagazine.com. ******* ******* . |
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