Page Turners – June 2022

Page Turners again enjoyed a wide ranging discussion in May and some of it was about books!

We began by discussing ‘The Red Tent‘ by Anita Diamant. This book is set in Old Testament times and tells the story of Dinah, the little-known daughter of Jacob and Leah. While most of us think we know the story of the twelve brothers, including Joseph with his coat of many colours, we are probably not aware of Dinah. The book massively broadens her story from the brief mention in the Bible and shows her as a strong, loved and respected woman. Whilst we cannot be certain of the historical accuracy, it gives an insight into the lives of the women of the time and their customs and beliefs. The book’s title refers to the tent in which they took refuge while menstruating or giving birth, and in which they found mutual support and encouragement from their mothers, sisters and aunts.

Our discussion included the origins of the Jewish faith and the place of women in society, then and now, so plenty to get our teeth into as a result of reading this fascinating book.

The majority of us enjoyed the book as a work of fiction and its biblical setting should not deter those without faith. Also despite its historical setting the central themes of women’s lives are timeless and remain relevant to the modern world.

Deborah