sunday. the red tent.

i'd been searching for something great to read that didn't involve fancy nancy, the rainbow fairies, the big red barn, or goodnight moon. the red tent was exactly what i needed. and then some. i'd seen it at the bookstore, and at the library, but honestly, had never even read the back cover. it was recommended by a few people when i reached out for a list from friends and checked it out at the library a few days ago.

i finished it last night at 2 a.m., and even then, was sad it was over.

let me start by saying that i wasn't sure about this book before i started it. i'm generally not drawn to religious or even loosely religious based fiction. and the back of the book introduces it's main character, dinah, as jacob's only daughter from the book of genesis. it wasn't drawing my attention like i'd hoped. but, as i read, i realized this book is about so much more, and really only uses the character as a way to share intimate and insightful moments throughout women's history. note to self: don't judge a book by it's book jacket.

dinah, the narrator, opens by introducing herself and explaining that she is reciting the memories of her life and her mothers’ lives—because without a daughter to tell the story, a woman’s history does not live on. dinah focuses initially on the stories of her mothers, the four wives of jacob—and how they come to be married to the same man (p.s. i didn't think i could get past the multiple wives part, but it really was easy when you realized that it's not the focus of the book).

what reached me the most throughout this story though, is the journey of several of these women onto the path of midwifery–extremely successful ones at that. it was awe inspiring reading about these women and their relationships. they brought life into the world, helped helpless mothers survive, and created inseparable, yet complicated bonds amongst each other. a lot of the story is unfathomable to today's world—but so much of what was said, still hits home—big-time.