Anita Diamant's The Red Tent is an epic celebration of womanhood, written for women everywhere, regardless of their status, creed or colour. It is the story of a woman whose life was blessed by great love and torn by tragedy, of the lessons she learned through her own experiences and those of the women, and men, whose lives she touched. Diamant has chosen as her leading lady a woman whose name alone conjures up echoes of mystery, passion and betrayal. The Red Tent is the fictional tale of Dinah, whose life, like the majority of women in the Old Testament, merits only a passing mention. It is the men in Dinah¹s life that history has remembered: her famous father Jacob, his dozen sons and especially her brother, Joseph and his technicolour dreamcoat. Not religious? Don' t worry, this biblical character and the story Anita Diamant has woven from the merest hints, will appeal to all.

Strangely, even though Dinah lived her life several thousand years ago in a culture far removed from almost all of the women who will read this book, her story is as relevant and fresh as any written in recent years. This novel is as compelling for its female take on the grand themes that transcend time--birth, death, love, hate, betrayal and forgiveness­-as it is for its meticulously researched and hugely fascinating picture of everyday life as an early Jewish woman. The book's title refers to the tent where the women retired each month to pass their menstruation, and the descriptions of their time spent celebrating this fundamental rite of womanhood, and other daily customs make this a most original and inspiring book. In an age when gender and family traditions are becoming more and more diluted, The Red Tent honours women and their many and varied roles in life. Carey Green The red tent is the place where women gathered during their cycles of birthing, menses and even illness. Like the conversations and mysteries held within this feminine tent, this sweeping piece of fiction offers an insider's look at the daily life of a biblical sorority of mothers and wives and their one and only daughter Dinah. Told in the voice of Jacob's daughter Dinah (who only received a glimpse of recognition in the Book of Genesis), we are privy to the fascinating feminine characters that bled within the red tent. In a confiding and poetic voice, Dinah whispers stories of her four mothers, Rachel, Leah, Zilpah, and Bilhah--all wives to Jacob, and each one embodying unique feminine traits. As she reveals these sensual and emotionally charged stories we learn of birthing miracles, slaves, artisans, household gods, and sisterhood secrets. Eventually Dinah delves into her own saga of betrayals, grief, and a call to midwifery.

"Like any sisters who live together and share a husband, my mother and aunties spun a sticky web of loyalties and grudges," Anita Diamant writes in the voice of Dinah. "They traded secrets like bracelets, and these were handed down to me the only surviving girl. They told me things I was too young to hear. They held my face between their hands and made me swear to remember." Remembering women's earthy stories and passionate history is indeed the theme of this magnificent book. In fact, it's been said that The Red Tent is what the Bible might have been had it been written by God's daughters, instead of her sons. --Gail Hudson

Compelling, 27 Sep 2008
One I started I couldn't put it down! I loved this book from start to finish.

Girlpower at its best, 15 Aug 2008
The one book every woman should read - this is the first story of girlpower - the fact that it is based on a bible story is not a big factor and could put people off, it shouldn't. It is a story of the special bond between women and their friendships. A powerful and beautiful book.

Passion and Betrayal, 24 May 2008
The fictional tale of Dinah who is only mentioned briefly in the Old Testament. I think that Anita Diamant has written a very moving tragedy of passion and betrayal using the historical background well. It is very different from Good Harbor which I read earlier. Although both titles are strongly based on the theme of friendships amongst women, just set in a different time and place. Personally I found Good Harbor easier to relate to because it is a contempory novel. However I did enjoy both novels very much and would recommend them to others.
The reviews here on amazon.co.uk are well worth reading, very varied opinions.

The Red Tent, 08 Apr 2008
I wonderful story that made me cry in a cafe full of people. A wonderful take on a time we rarely hear of through a woman's voice which reveals the extent of the role of women in creating if not taking part in momentous points in history.
I would recommend this book to anyone with an in women's history, midwifery, or just in search of a good read!

Absolutely dreadful earnest drivel, 02 Apr 2008
I read this book for my book club; would never have read it otherwise. I knew as soon as I saw the title that The Red Tent would refer to something menstrual, and sure enough, it's where the women gather for their periods, which, mysteriously, they all seem to have at the same time and always on the full moon. I mean, I know women are supposed to have their periods in sync if they live together, but a whole tribe of women?? God, this book was so boring. Endless details of childbirth, menstrual cycles, tedious 'womanly' issues (and I am writing this as a woman). The characters are all two dimensional. The writing is cliched and horribly earnest. I hate this sort of self-consciously 'empowered female' writing, in which women's characters are reduced to their menstrual cycles and hormones. I just cannot see why anyone would give it any stars let alone five stars. I have been forced to give it one star because of the Amazon system, but really it deserves no stars at all. Read the Old Testament instead - the language is so much better and the stories so much more powerful. (And I'm not even a Christian).

Compelling, 27 Sep 2008
One I started I couldn't put it down! I loved this book from start to finish.

Girlpower at its best, 15 Aug 2008
The one book every woman should read - this is the first story of girlpower - the fact that it is based on a bible story is not a big factor and could put people off, it shouldn't. It is a story of the special bond between women and their friendships. A powerful and beautiful book.

Passion and Betrayal, 24 May 2008
The fictional tale of Dinah who is only mentioned briefly in the Old Testament. I think that Anita Diamant has written a very moving tragedy of passion and betrayal using the historical background well. It is very different from Good Harbor which I read earlier. Although both titles are strongly based on the theme of friendships amongst women, just set in a different time and place. Personally I found Good Harbor easier to relate to because it is a contempory novel. However I did enjoy both novels very much and would recommend them to others.
The reviews here on amazon.co.uk are well worth reading, very varied opinions.

The Red Tent, 08 Apr 2008
I wonderful story that made me cry in a cafe full of people. A wonderful take on a time we rarely hear of through a woman's voice which reveals the extent of the role of women in creating if not taking part in momentous points in history.
I would recommend this book to anyone with an in women's history, midwifery, or just in search of a good read!

Absolutely dreadful earnest drivel, 02 Apr 2008
I read this book for my book club; would never have read it otherwise. I knew as soon as I saw the title that The Red Tent would refer to something menstrual, and sure enough, it's where the women gather for their periods, which, mysteriously, they all seem to have at the same time and always on the full moon. I mean, I know women are supposed to have their periods in sync if they live together, but a whole tribe of women?? God, this book was so boring. Endless details of childbirth, menstrual cycles, tedious 'womanly' issues (and I am writing this as a woman). The characters are all two dimensional. The writing is cliched and horribly earnest. I hate this sort of self-consciously 'empowered female' writing, in which women's characters are reduced to their menstrual cycles and hormones. I just cannot see why anyone would give it any stars let alone five stars. I have been forced to give it one star because of the Amazon system, but really it deserves no stars at all. Read the Old Testament instead - the language is so much better and the stories so much more powerful. (And I'm not even a Christian).

So Real it Will Make You Cry, 07 Jan 2008
It's rumored and many of the people in Gloucester, Massachusetts believe the folks over in Dogtown, a town that has been named for the pack of almost wild dogs who run free in the town that is hour's walk away, are witches, but they're not. They are simply outcasts, black folks, prostitutes, widows, drunks and the like. Folks they'd look down on, folks just trying to get by, dealing with the daily evils one might find if you are not gentry in 1814.

Dogtown is a small farming village by Cape Ann that failed to make it and so winds up being a town for those on the bottom rungs of society who mired in poverty or just plain lazy make do by selling berries or a brew the make from twigs and roots. However, their betters do not admire their endeavors, instead they make fun of them, call them trasheaters. In Dogtown those who can, get out.

We meet some of dogtown's residents at a funeral, like Ruth a black stonemason who happens to dress like a man (remember this is the early 1800s); a madam that is raising her grandson in her brothel; a couple of lesbian prostitutes among others; but the mourner who really grabs the reader's attention is Judy Rhines, a poor woman who had been abandoned by her father when she was eight years old. Judy is a sad and lonely woman who once had an affair with a freed slave, but she was forced to end the affair and now her heart only beats half the time. Her only companion now is one of the town dogs.

THE LAST DAYS OF DOGTOWN is a character study of the people mentioned above and others that will both take you back to a place in time where life was hard, sometimes cruel, often unfair and it make you glad you live when and where you do. Anita Diamant's people are sometimes too real, so real you want to cry, so real you will be thinking about them long after you finish this gorgeous story. Five stars from me.

Review Submitted by Captain Katie Osborne

Compelling, 27 Sep 2008
One I started I couldn't put it down! I loved this book from start to finish.

Girlpower at its best, 15 Aug 2008
The one book every woman should read - this is the first story of girlpower - the fact that it is based on a bible story is not a big factor and could put people off, it shouldn't. It is a story of the special bond between women and their friendships. A powerful and beautiful book.

Passion and Betrayal, 24 May 2008
The fictional tale of Dinah who is only mentioned briefly in the Old Testament. I think that Anita Diamant has written a very moving tragedy of passion and betrayal using the historical background well. It is very different from Good Harbor which I read earlier. Although both titles are strongly based on the theme of friendships amongst women, just set in a different time and place. Personally I found Good Harbor easier to relate to because it is a contempory novel. However I did enjoy both novels very much and would recommend them to others.
The reviews here on amazon.co.uk are well worth reading, very varied opinions.

The Red Tent, 08 Apr 2008
I wonderful story that made me cry in a cafe full of people. A wonderful take on a time we rarely hear of through a woman's voice which reveals the extent of the role of women in creating if not taking part in momentous points in history.
I would recommend this book to anyone with an in women's history, midwifery, or just in search of a good read!

Absolutely dreadful earnest drivel, 02 Apr 2008
I read this book for my book club; would never have read it otherwise. I knew as soon as I saw the title that The Red Tent would refer to something menstrual, and sure enough, it's where the women gather for their periods, which, mysteriously, they all seem to have at the same time and always on the full moon. I mean, I know women are supposed to have their periods in sync if they live together, but a whole tribe of women?? God, this book was so boring. Endless details of childbirth, menstrual cycles, tedious 'womanly' issues (and I am writing this as a woman). The characters are all two dimensional. The writing is cliched and horribly earnest. I hate this sort of self-consciously 'empowered female' writing, in which women's characters are reduced to their menstrual cycles and hormones. I just cannot see why anyone would give it any stars let alone five stars. I have been forced to give it one star because of the Amazon system, but really it deserves no stars at all. Read the Old Testament instead - the language is so much better and the stories so much more powerful. (And I'm not even a Christian).

So Real it Will Make You Cry, 07 Jan 2008
It's rumored and many of the people in Gloucester, Massachusetts believe the folks over in Dogtown, a town that has been named for the pack of almost wild dogs who run free in the town that is hour's walk away, are witches, but they're not. They are simply outcasts, black folks, prostitutes, widows, drunks and the like. Folks they'd look down on, folks just trying to get by, dealing with the daily evils one might find if you are not gentry in 1814.

Dogtown is a small farming village by Cape Ann that failed to make it and so winds up being a town for those on the bottom rungs of society who mired in poverty or just plain lazy make do by selling berries or a brew the make from twigs and roots. However, their betters do not admire their endeavors, instead they make fun of them, call them trasheaters. In Dogtown those who can, get out.

We meet some of dogtown's residents at a funeral, like Ruth a black stonemason who happens to dress like a man (remember this is the early 1800s); a madam that is raising her grandson in her brothel; a couple of lesbian prostitutes among others; but the mourner who really grabs the reader's attention is Judy Rhines, a poor woman who had been abandoned by her father when she was eight years old. Judy is a sad and lonely woman who once had an affair with a freed slave, but she was forced to end the affair and now her heart only beats half the time. Her only companion now is one of the town dogs.

THE LAST DAYS OF DOGTOWN is a character study of the people mentioned above and others that will both take you back to a place in time where life was hard, sometimes cruel, often unfair and it make you glad you live when and where you do. Anita Diamant's people are sometimes too real, so real you want to cry, so real you will be thinking about them long after you finish this gorgeous story. Five stars from me.

Review Submitted by Captain Katie Osborne

Moving!, 19 Oct 2007
A moving read, that I felt able to relate to as it is about real life. It made me think about how much I miss my girlfiends back in the UK! Also as my mother is a breast cancer survivor I found the way Anita Diiamant
tackled this particularly interesting. Well worth reading.

Another lovely book from Anita Diament., 25 Jun 2006
I read this having just read 'Pitching my Tent' and 'The Red Tent'. Personally I preferred it to 'The Red Tent', perhaps because it's set in the present day as opposed to biblical times. I really felt I got to know the characters and wanted to get to know them even more. A really true portrayal of the growing relationship between two women.

Disappointing follow up, 25 Apr 2005
I was eagery awaiting this as I thought The Red Tent was a brilliant book but was an extremely dissapointing follow up. Although the story has potential the writing was wishy washy and the character development was poor. I found it hard to believe that this was the same author that wrote so well in The Red Tent. Lets hope she gets back on track with the next novel.

Better than the first!, 04 Jan 2005
Although I loved The Red Tent it left me feeling a bit empty. Good Harbour satisfied me from beginning to end. I loved getting to know the two main characters. I felt I was sharing in the special bond between them. It is an uncomplicated read about everyday life, meaningful but lighthearted and amusing in parts.

A Thought Provoking Read, 08 Jul 2004
This is a story about relationships and how those relationships change and develop when Kathleen is diagnosed with cancer.

Kathleen has seen some sad times, she saw her son killed in a car accident and her sister die from cancer. When Kathleen herself is diagnosed she goes through many emotional crises, finding it difficult to accept that the cancer she has is completely different to that of her sister.

Kathleen then meets Joyce, an author, who has recently bought a holiday home in the area and an amazing friendship develops. It is this friendship that pulls Kathleen through. When sad times arrive for Joyce, Kathleen is there for her to pick up the pieces.

Despite the subject this is a wonderful novel, not sad at all and in places very funny. I would recommend it to all.

Compelling, 27 Sep 2008
One I started I couldn't put it down! I loved this book from start to finish.

Girlpower at its best, 15 Aug 2008
The one book every woman should read - this is the first story of girlpower - the fact that it is based on a bible story is not a big factor and could put people off, it shouldn't. It is a story of the special bond between women and their friendships. A powerful and beautiful book.

Passion and Betrayal, 24 May 2008
The fictional tale of Dinah who is only mentioned briefly in the Old Testament. I think that Anita Diamant has written a very moving tragedy of passion and betrayal using the historical background well. It is very different from Good Harbor which I read earlier. Although both titles are strongly based on the theme of friendships amongst women, just set in a different time and place. Personally I found Good Harbor easier to relate to because it is a contempory novel. However I did enjoy both novels very much and would recommend them to others.
The reviews here on amazon.co.uk are well worth reading, very varied opinions.

The Red Tent, 08 Apr 2008
I wonderful story that made me cry in a cafe full of people. A wonderful take on a time we rarely hear of through a woman's voice which reveals the extent of the role of women in creating if not taking part in momentous points in history.
I would recommend this book to anyone with an in women's history, midwifery, or just in search of a good read!

Absolutely dreadful earnest drivel, 02 Apr 2008
I read this book for my book club; would never have read it otherwise. I knew as soon as I saw the title that The Red Tent would refer to something menstrual, and sure enough, it's where the women gather for their periods, which, mysteriously, they all seem to have at the same time and always on the full moon. I mean, I know women are supposed to have their periods in sync if they live together, but a whole tribe of women?? God, this book was so boring. Endless details of childbirth, menstrual cycles, tedious 'womanly' issues (and I am writing this as a woman). The characters are all two dimensional. The writing is cliched and horribly earnest. I hate this sort of self-consciously 'empowered female' writing, in which women's characters are reduced to their menstrual cycles and hormones. I just cannot see why anyone would give it any stars let alone five stars. I have been forced to give it one star because of the Amazon system, but really it deserves no stars at all. Read the Old Testament instead - the language is so much better and the stories so much more powerful. (And I'm not even a Christian).

So Real it Will Make You Cry, 07 Jan 2008
It's rumored and many of the people in Gloucester, Massachusetts believe the folks over in Dogtown, a town that has been named for the pack of almost wild dogs who run free in the town that is hour's walk away, are witches, but they're not. They are simply outcasts, black folks, prostitutes, widows, drunks and the like. Folks they'd look down on, folks just trying to get by, dealing with the daily evils one might find if you are not gentry in 1814.

Dogtown is a small farming village by Cape Ann that failed to make it and so winds up being a town for those on the bottom rungs of society who mired in poverty or just plain lazy make do by selling berries or a brew the make from twigs and roots. However, their betters do not admire their endeavors, instead they make fun of them, call them trasheaters. In Dogtown those who can, get out.

We meet some of dogtown's residents at a funeral, like Ruth a black stonemason who happens to dress like a man (remember this is the early 1800s); a madam that is raising her grandson in her brothel; a couple of lesbian prostitutes among others; but the mourner who really grabs the reader's attention is Judy Rhines, a poor woman who had been abandoned by her father when she was eight years old. Judy is a sad and lonely woman who once had an affair with a freed slave, but she was forced to end the affair and now her heart only beats half the time. Her only companion now is one of the town dogs.

THE LAST DAYS OF DOGTOWN is a character study of the people mentioned above and others that will both take you back to a place in time where life was hard, sometimes cruel, often unfair and it make you glad you live when and where you do. Anita Diamant's people are sometimes too real, so real you want to cry, so real you will be thinking about them long after you finish this gorgeous story. Five stars from me.

Review Submitted by Captain Katie Osborne

Moving!, 19 Oct 2007
A moving read, that I felt able to relate to as it is about real life. It made me think about how much I miss my girlfiends back in the UK! Also as my mother is a breast cancer survivor I found the way Anita Diiamant
tackled this particularly interesting. Well worth reading.

Another lovely book from Anita Diament., 25 Jun 2006
I read this having just read 'Pitching my Tent' and 'The Red Tent'. Personally I preferred it to 'The Red Tent', perhaps because it's set in the present day as opposed to biblical times. I really felt I got to know the characters and wanted to get to know them even more. A really true portrayal of the growing relationship between two women.

Disappointing follow up, 25 Apr 2005
I was eagery awaiting this as I thought The Red Tent was a brilliant book but was an extremely dissapointing follow up. Although the story has potential the writing was wishy washy and the character development was poor. I found it hard to believe that this was the same author that wrote so well in The Red Tent. Lets hope she gets back on track with the next novel.

Better than the first!, 04 Jan 2005
Although I loved The Red Tent it left me feeling a bit empty. Good Harbour satisfied me from beginning to end. I loved getting to know the two main characters. I felt I was sharing in the special bond between them. It is an uncomplicated read about everyday life, meaningful but lighthearted and amusing in parts.

A Thought Provoking Read, 08 Jul 2004
This is a story about relationships and how those relationships change and develop when Kathleen is diagnosed with cancer.

Kathleen has seen some sad times, she saw her son killed in a car accident and her sister die from cancer. When Kathleen herself is diagnosed she goes through many emotional crises, finding it difficult to accept that the cancer she has is completely different to that of her sister.

Kathleen then meets Joyce, an author, who has recently bought a holiday home in the area and an amazing friendship develops. It is this friendship that pulls Kathleen through. When sad times arrive for Joyce, Kathleen is there for her to pick up the pieces.

Despite the subject this is a wonderful novel, not sad at all and in places very funny. I would recommend it to all.

So Real it Will Make You Cry, 07 Jan 2008
It's rumored and many of the people in Gloucester, Massachusetts believe the folks over in Dogtown, a town that has been named for the pack of almost wild dogs who run free in the town that is hour's walk away, are witches, but they're not. They are simply outcasts, black folks, prostitutes, widows, drunks and the like. Folks they'd look down on, folks just trying to get by, dealing with the daily evils one might find if you are not gentry in 1814.

Dogtown is a small farming village by Cape Ann that failed to make it and so winds up being a town for those on the bottom rungs of society who mired in poverty or just plain lazy make do by selling berries or a brew the make from twigs and roots. However, their betters do not admire their endeavors, instead they make fun of them, call them trasheaters. In Dogtown those who can, get out.

We meet some of dogtown's residents at a funeral, like Ruth a black stonemason who happens to dress like a man (remember this is the early 1800s); a madam that is raising her grandson in her brothel; a couple of lesbian prostitutes among others; but the mourner who really grabs the reader's attention is Judy Rhines, a poor woman who had been abandoned by her father when she was eight years old. Judy is a sad and lonely woman who once had an affair with a freed slave, but she was forced to end the affair and now her heart only beats half the time. Her only companion now is one of the town dogs.

THE LAST DAYS OF DOGTOWN is a character study of the people mentioned above and others that will both take you back to a place in time where life was hard, sometimes cruel, often unfair and it make you glad you live when and where you do. Anita Diamant's people are sometimes too real, so real you want to cry, so real you will be thinking about them long after you finish this gorgeous story. Five stars from me.

Review Submitted by Captain Katie Osborne

Compelling, 27 Sep 2008
One I started I couldn't put it down! I loved this book from start to finish.

Girlpower at its best, 15 Aug 2008
The one book every woman should read - this is the first story of girlpower - the fact that it is based on a bible story is not a big factor and could put people off, it shouldn't. It is a story of the special bond between women and their friendships. A powerful and beautiful book.

Passion and Betrayal, 24 May 2008
The fictional tale of Dinah who is only mentioned briefly in the Old Testament. I think that Anita Diamant has written a very moving tragedy of passion and betrayal using the historical background well. It is very different from Good Harbor which I read earlier. Although both titles are strongly based on the theme of friendships amongst women, just set in a different time and place. Personally I found Good Harbor easier to relate to because it is a contempory novel. However I did enjoy both novels very much and would recommend them to others.
The reviews here on amazon.co.uk are well worth reading, very varied opinions.

The Red Tent, 08 Apr 2008
I wonderful story that made me cry in a cafe full of people. A wonderful take on a time we rarely hear of through a woman's voice which reveals the extent of the role of women in creating if not taking part in momentous points in history.
I would recommend this book to anyone with an in women's history, midwifery, or just in search of a good read!

Absolutely dreadful earnest drivel, 02 Apr 2008
I read this book for my book club; would never have read it otherwise. I knew as soon as I saw the title that The Red Tent would refer to something menstrual, and sure enough, it's where the women gather for their periods, which, mysteriously, they all seem to have at the same time and always on the full moon. I mean, I know women are supposed to have their periods in sync if they live together, but a whole tribe of women?? God, this book was so boring. Endless details of childbirth, menstrual cycles, tedious 'womanly' issues (and I am writing this as a woman). The characters are all two dimensional. The writing is cliched and horribly earnest. I hate this sort of self-consciously 'empowered female' writing, in which women's characters are reduced to their menstrual cycles and hormones. I just cannot see why anyone would give it any stars let alone five stars. I have been forced to give it one star because of the Amazon system, but really it deserves no stars at all. Read the Old Testament instead - the language is so much better and the stories so much more powerful. (And I'm not even a Christian).

So Real it Will Make You Cry, 07 Jan 2008
It's rumored and many of the people in Gloucester, Massachusetts believe the folks over in Dogtown, a town that has been named for the pack of almost wild dogs who run free in the town that is hour's walk away, are witches, but they're not. They are simply outcasts, black folks, prostitutes, widows, drunks and the like. Folks they'd look down on, folks just trying to get by, dealing with the daily evils one might find if you are not gentry in 1814.

Dogtown is a small farming village by Cape Ann that failed to make it and so winds up being a town for those on the bottom rungs of society who mired in poverty or just plain lazy make do by selling berries or a brew the make from twigs and roots. However, their betters do not admire their endeavors, instead they make fun of them, call them trasheaters. In Dogtown those who can, get out.

We meet some of dogtown's residents at a funeral, like Ruth a black stonemason who happens to dress like a man (remember this is the early 1800s); a madam that is raising her grandson in her brothel; a couple of lesbian prostitutes among others; but the mourner who really grabs the reader's attention is Judy Rhines, a poor woman who had been abandoned by her father when she was eight years old. Judy is a sad and lonely woman who once had an affair with a freed slave, but she was forced to end the affair and now her heart only beats half the time. Her only companion now is one of the town dogs.

THE LAST DAYS OF DOGTOWN is a character study of the people mentioned above and others that will both take you back to a place in time where life was hard, sometimes cruel, often unfair and it make you glad you live when and where you do. Anita Diamant's people are sometimes too real, so real you want to cry, so real you will be thinking about them long after you finish this gorgeous story. Five stars from me.

Review Submitted by Captain Katie Osborne

Moving!, 19 Oct 2007
A moving read, that I felt able to relate to as it is about real life. It made me think about how much I miss my girlfiends back in the UK! Also as my mother is a breast cancer survivor I found the way Anita Diiamant
tackled this particularly interesting. Well worth reading.

Another lovely book from Anita Diament., 25 Jun 2006
I read this having just read 'Pitching my Tent' and 'The Red Tent'. Personally I preferred it to 'The Red Tent', perhaps because it's set in the present day as opposed to biblical times. I really felt I got to know the characters and wanted to get to know them even more. A really true portrayal of the growing relationship between two women.

Disappointing follow up, 25 Apr 2005
I was eagery awaiting this as I thought The Red Tent was a brilliant book but was an extremely dissapointing follow up. Although the story has potential the writing was wishy washy and the character development was poor. I found it hard to believe that this was the same author that wrote so well in The Red Tent. Lets hope she gets back on track with the next novel.

Better than the first!, 04 Jan 2005
Although I loved The Red Tent it left me feeling a bit empty. Good Harbour satisfied me from beginning to end. I loved getting to know the two main characters. I felt I was sharing in the special bond between them. It is an uncomplicated read about everyday life, meaningful but lighthearted and amusing in parts.

A Thought Provoking Read, 08 Jul 2004
This is a story about relationships and how those relationships change and develop when Kathleen is diagnosed with cancer.

Kathleen has seen some sad times, she saw her son killed in a car accident and her sister die from cancer. When Kathleen herself is diagnosed she goes through many emotional crises, finding it difficult to accept that the cancer she has is completely different to that of her sister.

Kathleen then meets Joyce, an author, who has recently bought a holiday home in the area and an amazing friendship develops. It is this friendship that pulls Kathleen through. When sad times arrive for Joyce, Kathleen is there for her to pick up the pieces.

Despite the subject this is a wonderful novel, not sad at all and in places very funny. I would recommend it to all.

So Real it Will Make You Cry, 07 Jan 2008
It's rumored and many of the people in Gloucester, Massachusetts believe the folks over in Dogtown, a town that has been named for the pack of almost wild dogs who run free in the town that is hour's walk away, are witches, but they're not. They are simply outcasts, black folks, prostitutes, widows, drunks and the like. Folks they'd look down on, folks just trying to get by, dealing with the daily evils one might find if you are not gentry in 1814.

Dogtown is a small farming village by Cape Ann that failed to make it and so winds up being a town for those on the bottom rungs of society who mired in poverty or just plain lazy make do by selling berries or a brew the make from twigs and roots. However, their betters do not admire their endeavors, instead they make fun of them, call them trasheaters. In Dogtown those who can, get out.

We meet some of dogtown's residents at a funeral, like Ruth a black stonemason who happens to dress like a man (remember this is the early 1800s); a madam that is raising her grandson in her brothel; a couple of lesbian prostitutes among others; but the mourner who really grabs the reader's attention is Judy Rhines, a poor woman who had been abandoned by her father when she was eight years old. Judy is a sad and lonely woman who once had an affair with a freed slave, but she was forced to end the affair and now her heart only beats half the time. Her only companion now is one of the town dogs.

THE LAST DAYS OF DOGTOWN is a character study of the people mentioned above and others that will both take you back to a place in time where life was hard, sometimes cruel, often unfair and it make you glad you live when and where you do. Anita Diamant's people are sometimes too real, so real you want to cry, so real you will be thinking about them long after you finish this gorgeous story. Five stars from me.

Review Submitted by Captain Katie Osborne

You'll want to lend this to every woman you know., 25 Jun 2006
This is such a lovely book! I read it over the course of a few days because you can read it in fits and starts as the chapters are so short. Lots of observations which you will recognise from your own life - I'm jewish, so it's quite relevant to me in places, but my non-jewish friends have all loved it too. Quiet, introspective and thought provoking.

Compelling, 27 Sep 2008
One I started I couldn't put it down! I loved this book from start to finish.

Girlpower at its best, 15 Aug 2008
The one book every woman should read - this is the first story of girlpower - the fact that it is based on a bible story is not a big factor and could put people off, it shouldn't. It is a story of the special bond between women and their friendships. A powerful and beautiful book.

Passion and Betrayal, 24 May 2008
The fictional tale of Dinah who is only mentioned briefly in the Old Testament. I think that Anita Diamant has written a very moving tragedy of passion and betrayal using the historical background well. It is very different from Good Harbor which I read earlier. Although both titles are strongly based on the theme of friendships amongst women, just set in a different time and place. Personally I found Good Harbor easier to relate to because it is a contempory novel. However I did enjoy both novels very much and would recommend them to others.
The reviews here on amazon.co.uk are well worth reading, very varied opinions.

The Red Tent, 08 Apr 2008
I wonderful story that made me cry in a cafe full of people. A wonderful take on a time we rarely hear of through a woman's voice which reveals the extent of the role of women in creating if not taking part in momentous points in history.
I would recommend this book to anyone with an in women's history, midwifery, or just in search of a good read!

Absolutely dreadful earnest drivel, 02 Apr 2008
I read this book for my book club; would never have read it otherwise. I knew as soon as I saw the title that The Red Tent would refer to something menstrual, and sure enough, it's where the women gather for their periods, which, mysteriously, they all seem to have at the same time and always on the full moon. I mean, I know women are supposed to have their periods in sync if they live together, but a whole tribe of women?? God, this book was so boring. Endless details of childbirth, menstrual cycles, tedious 'womanly' issues (and I am writing this as a woman). The characters are all two dimensional. The writing is cliched and horribly earnest. I hate this sort of self-consciously 'empowered female' writing, in which women's characters are reduced to their menstrual cycles and hormones. I just cannot see why anyone would give it any stars let alone five stars. I have been forced to give it one star because of the Amazon system, but really it deserves no stars at all. Read the Old Testament instead - the language is so much better and the stories so much more powerful. (And I'm not even a Christian).

So Real it Will Make You Cry, 07 Jan 2008
It's rumored and many of the people in Gloucester, Massachusetts believe the folks over in Dogtown, a town that has been named for the pack of almost wild dogs who run free in the town that is hour's walk away, are witches, but they're not. They are simply outcasts, black folks, prostitutes, widows, drunks and the like. Folks they'd look down on, folks just trying to get by, dealing with the daily evils one might find if you are not gentry in 1814.

Dogtown is a small farming village by Cape Ann that failed to make it and so winds up being a town for those on the bottom rungs of society who mired in poverty or just plain lazy make do by selling berries or a brew the make from twigs and roots. However, their betters do not admire their endeavors, instead they make fun of them, call them trasheaters. In Dogtown those who can, get out.

We meet some of dogtown's residents at a funeral, like Ruth a black stonemason who happens to dress like a man (remember this is the early 1800s); a madam that is raising her grandson in her brothel; a couple of lesbian prostitutes among others; but the mourner who really grabs the reader's attention is Judy Rhines, a poor woman who had been abandoned by her father when she was eight years old. Judy is a sad and lonely woman who once had an affair with a freed slave, but she was forced to end the affair and now her heart only beats half the time. Her only companion now is one of the town dogs.

THE LAST DAYS OF DOGTOWN is a character study of the people mentioned above and others that will both take you back to a place in time where life was hard, sometimes cruel, often unfair and it make you glad you live when and where you do. Anita Diamant's people are sometimes too real, so real you want to cry, so real you will be thinking about them long after you finish this gorgeous story. Five stars from me.

Review Submitted by Captain Katie Osborne

Moving!, 19 Oct 2007
A moving read, that I felt able to relate to as it is about real life. It made me think about how much I miss my girlfiends back in the UK! Also as my mother is a breast cancer survivor I found the way Anita Diiamant
tackled this particularly interesting. Well worth reading.

Another lovely book from Anita Diament., 25 Jun 2006
I read this having just read 'Pitching my Tent' and 'The Red Tent'. Personally I preferred it to 'The Red Tent', perhaps because it's set in the present day as opposed to biblical times. I really felt I got to know the characters and wanted to get to know them even more. A really true portrayal of the growing relationship between two women.

Disappointing follow up, 25 Apr 2005
I was eagery awaiting this as I thought The Red Tent was a brilliant book but was an extremely dissapointing follow up. Although the story has potential the writing was wishy washy and the character development was poor. I found it hard to believe that this was the same author that wrote so well in The Red Tent. Lets hope she gets back on track with the next novel.

Better than the first!, 04 Jan 2005
Although I loved The Red Tent it left me feeling a bit empty. Good Harbour satisfied me from beginning to end. I loved getting to know the two main characters. I felt I was sharing in the special bond between them. It is an uncomplicated read about everyday life, meaningful but lighthearted and amusing in parts.

A Thought Provoking Read, 08 Jul 2004
This is a story about relationships and how those relationships change and develop when Kathleen is diagnosed with cancer.

Kathleen has seen some sad times, she saw her son killed in a car accident and her sister die from cancer. When Kathleen herself is diagnosed she goes through many emotional crises, finding it difficult to accept that the cancer she has is completely different to that of her sister.

Kathleen then meets Joyce, an author, who has recently bought a holiday home in the area and an amazing friendship develops. It is this friendship that pulls Kathleen through. When sad times arrive for Joyce, Kathleen is there for her to pick up the pieces.

Despite the subject this is a wonderful novel, not sad at all and in places very funny. I would recommend it to all.

So Real it Will Make You Cry, 07 Jan 2008
It's rumored and many of the people in Gloucester, Massachusetts believe the folks over in Dogtown, a town that has been named for the pack of almost wild dogs who run free in the town that is hour's walk away, are witches, but they're not. They are simply outcasts, black folks, prostitutes, widows, drunks and the like. Folks they'd look down on, folks just trying to get by, dealing with the daily evils one might find if you are not gentry in 1814.

Dogtown is a small farming village by Cape Ann that failed to make it and so winds up being a town for those on the bottom rungs of society who mired in poverty or just plain lazy make do by selling berries or a brew the make from twigs and roots. However, their betters do not admire their endeavors, instead they make fun of them, call them trasheaters. In Dogtown those who can, get out.

We meet some of dogtown's residents at a funeral, like Ruth a black stonemason who happens to dress like a man (remember this is the early 1800s); a madam that is raising her grandson in her brothel; a couple of lesbian prostitutes among others; but the mourner who really grabs the reader's attention is Judy Rhines, a poor woman who had been abandoned by her father when she was eight years old. Judy is a sad and lonely woman who once had an affair with a freed slave, but she was forced to end the affair and now her heart only beats half the time. Her only companion now is one of the town dogs.

THE LAST DAYS OF DOGTOWN is a character study of the people mentioned above and others that will both take you back to a place in time where life was hard, sometimes cruel, often unfair and it make you glad you live when and where you do. Anita Diamant's people are sometimes too real, so real you want to cry, so real you will be thinking about them long after you finish this gorgeous story. Five stars from me.

Review Submitted by Captain Katie Osborne

You'll want to lend this to every woman you know., 25 Jun 2006
This is such a lovely book! I read it over the course of a few days because you can read it in fits and starts as the chapters are so short. Lots of observations which you will recognise from your own life - I'm jewish, so it's quite relevant to me in places, but my non-jewish friends have all loved it too. Quiet, introspective and thought provoking.

Moving!, 19 Oct 2007
A moving read, that I felt able to relate to as it is about real life. It made me think about how much I miss my girlfiends back in the UK! Also as my mother is a breast cancer survivor I found the way Anita Diiamant
tackled this particularly interesting. Well worth reading.

Another lovely book from Anita Diament., 25 Jun 2006
I read this having just read 'Pitching my Tent' and 'The Red Tent'. Personally I preferred it to 'The Red Tent', perhaps because it's set in the present day as opposed to biblical times. I really felt I got to know the characters and wanted to get to know them even more. A really true portrayal of the growing relationship between two women.

Disappointing follow up, 25 Apr 2005
I was eagery awaiting this as I thought The Red Tent was a brilliant book but was an extremely dissapointing follow up. Although the story has potential the writing was wishy washy and the character development was poor. I found it hard to believe that this was the same author that wrote so well in The Red Tent. Lets hope she gets back on track with the next novel.

Better than the first!, 04 Jan 2005
Although I loved The Red Tent it left me feeling a bit empty. Good Harbour satisfied me from beginning to end. I loved getting to know the two main characters. I felt I was sharing in the special bond between them. It is an uncomplicated read about everyday life, meaningful but lighthearted and amusing in parts.

A Thought Provoking Read, 08 Jul 2004
This is a story about relationships and how those relationships change and develop when Kathleen is diagnosed with cancer.

Kathleen has seen some sad times, she saw her son killed in a car accident and her sister die from cancer. When Kathleen herself is diagnosed she goes through many emotional crises, finding it difficult to accept that the cancer she has is completely different to that of her sister.

Kathleen then meets Joyce, an author, who has recently bought a holiday home in the area and an amazing friendship develops. It is this friendship that pulls Kathleen through. When sad times arrive for Joyce, Kathleen is there for her to pick up the pieces.

Despite the subject this is a wonderful novel, not sad at all and in places very funny. I would recommend it to all.

Anita Diamant's The Red Tent is an epic celebration of womanhood, written for women everywhere, regardless of their status, creed or colour. It is the story of a woman whose life was blessed by great love and torn by tragedy, of the lessons she learned through her own experiences and those of the women, and men, whose lives she touched. Diamant has chosen as her leading lady a woman whose name alone conjures up echoes of mystery, passion and betrayal. The Red Tent is the fictional tale of Dinah, whose life, like the majority of women in the Old Testament, merits only a passing mention. It is the men in Dinah¹s life that history has remembered: her famous father Jacob, his dozen sons and especially her brother, Joseph and his technicolour dreamcoat. Not religious? Don' t worry, this biblical character and the story Anita Diamant has woven from the merest hints, will appeal to all.

Strangely, even though Dinah lived her life several thousand years ago in a culture far removed from almost all of the women who will read this book, her story is as relevant and fresh as any written in recent years. This novel is as compelling for its female take on the grand themes that transcend time--birth, death, love, hate, betrayal and forgiveness­-as it is for its meticulously researched and hugely fascinating picture of everyday life as an early Jewish woman. The book's title refers to the tent where the women retired each month to pass their menstruation, and the descriptions of their time spent celebrating this fundamental rite of womanhood, and other daily customs make this a most original and inspiring book. In an age when gender and family traditions are becoming more and more diluted, The Red Tent honours women and their many and varied roles in life. Carey Green The red tent is the place where women gathered during their cycles of birthing, menses and even illness. Like the conversations and mysteries held within this feminine tent, this sweeping piece of fiction offers an insider's look at the daily life of a biblical sorority of mothers and wives and their one and only daughter Dinah. Told in the voice of Jacob's daughter Dinah (who only received a glimpse of recognition in the Book of Genesis), we are privy to the fascinating feminine characters that bled within the red tent. In a confiding and poetic voice, Dinah whispers stories of her four mothers, Rachel, Leah, Zilpah, and Bilhah--all wives to Jacob, and each one embodying unique feminine traits. As she reveals these sensual and emotionally charged stories we learn of birthing miracles, slaves, artisans, household gods, and sisterhood secrets. Eventually Dinah delves into her own saga of betrayals, grief, and a call to midwifery.

"Like any sisters who live together and share a husband, my mother and aunties spun a sticky web of loyalties and grudges," Anita Diamant writes in the voice of Dinah. "They traded secrets like bracelets, and these were handed down to me the only surviving girl. They told me things I was too young to hear. They held my face between their hands and made me swear to remember." Remembering women's earthy stories and passionate history is indeed the theme of this magnificent book. In fact, it's been said that The Red Tent is what the Bible might have been had it been written by God's daughters, instead of her sons. --Gail Hudson

Compelling, 27 Sep 2008
One I started I couldn't put it down! I loved this book from start to finish.

Girlpower at its best, 15 Aug 2008
The one book every woman should read - this is the first story of girlpower - the fact that it is based on a bible story is not a big factor and could put people off, it shouldn't. It is a story of the special bond between women and their friendships. A powerful and beautiful book.

Passion and Betrayal, 24 May 2008
The fictional tale of Dinah who is only mentioned briefly in the Old Testament. I think that Anita Diamant has written a very moving tragedy of passion and betrayal using the historical background well. It is very different from Good Harbor which I read earlier. Although both titles are strongly based on the theme of friendships amongst women, just set in a different time and place. Personally I found Good Harbor easier to relate to because it is a contempory novel. However I did enjoy both novels very much and would recommend them to others.
The reviews here on amazon.co.uk are well worth reading, very varied opinions.

The Red Tent, 08 Apr 2008
I wonderful story that made me cry in a cafe full of people. A wonderful take on a time we rarely hear of through a woman's voice which reveals the extent of the role of women in creating if not taking part in momentous points in history.
I would recommend this book to anyone with an in women's history, midwifery, or just in search of a good read!

Absolutely dreadful earnest drivel, 02 Apr 2008
I read this book for my book club; would never have read it otherwise. I knew as soon as I saw the title that The Red Tent would refer to something menstrual, and sure enough, it's where the women gather for their periods, which, mysteriously, they all seem to have at the same time and always on the full moon. I mean, I know women are supposed to have their periods in sync if they live together, but a whole tribe of women?? God, this book was so boring. Endless details of childbirth, menstrual cycles, tedious 'womanly' issues (and I am writing this as a woman). The characters are all two dimensional. The writing is cliched and horribly earnest. I hate this sort of self-consciously 'empowered female' writing, in which women's characters are reduced to their menstrual cycles and hormones. I just cannot see why anyone would give it any stars let alone five stars. I have been forced to give it one star because of the Amazon system, but really it deserves no stars at all. Read the Old Testament instead - the language is so much better and the stories so much more powerful. (And I'm not even a Christian).

So Real it Will Make You Cry, 07 Jan 2008
It's rumored and many of the people in Gloucester, Massachusetts believe the folks over in Dogtown, a town that has been named for the pack of almost wild dogs who run free in the town that is hour's walk away, are witches, but they're not. They are simply outcasts, black folks, prostitutes, widows, drunks and the like. Folks they'd look down on, folks just trying to get by, dealing with the daily evils one might find if you are not gentry in 1814.

Dogtown is a small farming village by Cape Ann that failed to make it and so winds up being a town for those on the bottom rungs of society who mired in poverty or just plain lazy make do by selling berries or a brew the make from twigs and roots. However, their betters do not admire their endeavors, instead they make fun of them, call them trasheaters. In Dogtown those who can, get out.

We meet some of dogtown's residents at a funeral, like Ruth a black stonemason who happens to dress like a man (remember this is the early 1800s); a madam that is raising her grandson in her brothel; a couple of lesbian prostitutes among others; but the mourner who really grabs the reader's attention is Judy Rhines, a poor woman who had been abandoned by her father when she was eight years old. Judy is a sad and lonely woman who once had an affair with a freed slave, but she was forced to end the affair and now her heart only beats half the time. Her only companion now is one of the town dogs.

THE LAST DAYS OF DOGTOWN is a character study of the people mentioned above and others that will both take you back to a place in time where life was hard, sometimes cruel, often unfair and it make you glad you live when and where you do. Anita Diamant's people are sometimes too real, so real you want to cry, so real you will be thinking about them long after you finish this gorgeous story. Five stars from me.

Review Submitted by Captain Katie Osborne

Moving!, 19 Oct 2007
A moving read, that I felt able to relate to as it is about real life. It made me think about how much I miss my girlfiends back in the UK! Also as my mother is a breast cancer survivor I found the way Anita Diiamant
tackled this particularly interesting. Well worth reading.

Another lovely book from Anita Diament., 25 Jun 2006
I read this having just read 'Pitching my Tent' and 'The Red Tent'. Personally I preferred it to 'The Red Tent', perhaps because it's set in the present day as opposed to biblical times. I really felt I got to know the characters and wanted to get to know them even more. A really true portrayal of the growing relationship between two women.

Disappointing follow up, 25 Apr 2005
I was eagery awaiting this as I thought The Red Tent was a brilliant book but was an extremely dissapointing follow up. Although the story has potential the writing was wishy washy and the character development was poor. I found it hard to believe that this was the same author that wrote so well in The Red Tent. Lets hope she gets back on track with the next novel.

Better than the first!, 04 Jan 2005
Although I loved The Red Tent it left me feeling a bit empty. Good Harbour satisfied me from beginning to end. I loved getting to know the two main characters. I felt I was sharing in the special bond between them. It is an uncomplicated read about everyday life, meaningful but lighthearted and amusing in parts.

A Thought Provoking Read, 08 Jul 2004
This is a story about relationships and how those relationships change and develop when Kathleen is diagnosed with cancer.

Kathleen has seen some sad times, she saw her son killed in a car accident and her sister die from cancer. When Kathleen herself is diagnosed she goes through many emotional crises, finding it difficult to accept that the cancer she has is completely different to that of her sister.

Kathleen then meets Joyce, an author, who has recently bought a holiday home in the area and an amazing friendship develops. It is this friendship that pulls Kathleen through. When sad times arrive for Joyce, Kathleen is there for her to pick up the pieces.

Despite the subject this is a wonderful novel, not sad at all and in places very funny. I would recommend it to all.

So Real it Will Make You Cry, 07 Jan 2008
It's rumored and many of the people in Gloucester, Massachusetts believe the folks over in Dogtown, a town that has been named for the pack of almost wild dogs who run free in the town that is hour's walk away, are witches, but they're not. They are simply outcasts, black folks, prostitutes, widows, drunks and the like. Folks they'd look down on, folks just trying to get by, dealing with the daily evils one might find if you are not gentry in 1814.

Dogtown is a small farming village by Cape Ann that failed to make it and so winds up being a town for those on the bottom rungs of society who mired in poverty or just plain lazy make do by selling berries or a brew the make from twigs and roots. However, their betters do not admire their endeavors, instead they make fun of them, call them trasheaters. In Dogtown those who can, get out.

We meet some of dogtown's residents at a funeral, like Ruth a black stonemason who happens to dress like a man (remember this is the early 1800s); a madam that is raising her grandson in her brothel; a couple of lesbian prostitutes among others; but the mourner who really grabs the reader's attention is Judy Rhines, a poor woman who had been abandoned by her father when she was eight years old. Judy is a sad and lonely woman who once had an affair with a freed slave, but she was forced to end the affair and now her heart only beats half the time. Her only companion now is one of the town dogs.

THE LAST DAYS OF DOGTOWN is a character study of the people mentioned above and others that will both take you back to a place in time where life was hard, sometimes cruel, often unfair and it make you glad you live when and where you do. Anita Diamant's people are sometimes too real, so real you want to cry, so real you will be thinking about them long after you finish this gorgeous story. Five stars from me.

Review Submitted by Captain Katie Osborne

You'll want to lend this to every woman you know., 25 Jun 2006
This is such a lovely book! I read it over the course of a few days because you can read it in fits and starts as the chapters are so short. Lots of observations which you will recognise from your own life - I'm jewish, so it's quite relevant to me in places, but my non-jewish friends have all loved it too. Quiet, introspective and thought provoking.

Moving!, 19 Oct 2007
A moving read, that I felt able to relate to as it is about real life. It made me think about how much I miss my girlfiends back in the UK! Also as my mother is a breast cancer survivor I found the way Anita Diiamant
tackled this particularly interesting. Well worth reading.

Another lovely book from Anita Diament., 25 Jun 2006
I read this having just read 'Pitching my Tent' and 'The Red Tent'. Personally I preferred it to 'The Red Tent', perhaps because it's set in the present day as opposed to biblical times. I really felt I got to know the characters and wanted to get to know them even more. A really true portrayal of the growing relationship between two women.

Disappointing follow up, 25 Apr 2005
I was eagery awaiting this as I thought The Red Tent was a brilliant book but was an extremely dissapointing follow up. Although the story has potential the writing was wishy washy and the character development was poor. I found it hard to believe that this was the same author that wrote so well in The Red Tent. Lets hope she gets back on track with the next novel.

Better than the first!, 04 Jan 2005
Although I loved The Red Tent it left me feeling a bit empty. Good Harbour satisfied me from beginning to end. I loved getting to know the two main characters. I felt I was sharing in the special bond between them. It is an uncomplicated read about everyday life, meaningful but lighthearted and amusing in parts.

A Thought Provoking Read, 08 Jul 2004
This is a story about relationships and how those relationships change and develop when Kathleen is diagnosed with cancer.

Kathleen has seen some sad times, she saw her son killed in a car accident and her sister die from cancer. When Kathleen herself is diagnosed she goes through many emotional crises, finding it difficult to accept that the cancer she has is completely different to that of her sister.

Kathleen then meets Joyce, an author, who has recently bought a holiday home in the area and an amazing friendship develops. It is this friendship that pulls Kathleen through. When sad times arrive for Joyce, Kathleen is there for her to pick up the pieces.

Despite the subject this is a wonderful novel, not sad at all and in places very funny. I would recommend it to all.

Compelling, 27 Sep 2008
One I started I couldn't put it down! I loved this book from start to finish.

Girlpower at its best, 15 Aug 2008
The one book every woman should read - this is the first story of girlpower - the fact that it is based on a bible story is not a big factor and could put people off, it shouldn't. It is a story of the special bond between women and their friendships. A powerful and beautiful book.

Passion and Betrayal, 24 May 2008
The fictional tale of Dinah who is only mentioned briefly in the Old Testament. I think that Anita Diamant has written a very moving tragedy of passion and betrayal using the historical background well. It is very different from Good Harbor which I read earlier. Although both titles are strongly based on the theme of friendships amongst women, just set in a different time and place. Personally I found Good Harbor easier to relate to because it is a contempory novel. However I did enjoy both novels very much and would recommend them to others.
The reviews here on amazon.co.uk are well worth reading, very varied opinions.

The Red Tent, 08 Apr 2008
I wonderful story that made me cry in a cafe full of people. A wonderful take on a time we rarely hear of through a woman's voice which reveals the extent of the role of women in creating if not taking part in momentous points in history.
I would recommend this book to anyone with an in women's history, midwifery, or just in search of a good read!

Absolutely dreadful earnest drivel, 02 Apr 2008
I read this book for my book club; would never have read it otherwise. I knew as soon as I saw the title that The Red Tent would refer to something menstrual, and sure enough, it's where the women gather for their periods, which, mysteriously, they all seem to have at the same time and always on the full moon. I mean, I know women are supposed to have their periods in sync if they live together, but a whole tribe of women?? God, this book was so boring. Endless details of childbirth, menstrual cycles, tedious 'womanly' issues (and I am writing this as a woman). The characters are all two dimensional. The writing is cliched and horribly earnest. I hate this sort of self-consciously 'empowered female' writing, in which women's characters are reduced to their menstrual cycles and hormones. I just cannot see why anyone would give it any stars let alone five stars. I have been forced to give it one star because of the Amazon system, but really it deserves no stars at all. Read the Old Testament instead - the language is so much better and the stories so much more powerful. (And I'm not even a Christian).

Compelling, 27 Sep 2008
One I started I couldn't put it down! I loved this book from start to finish.

Girlpower at its best, 15 Aug 2008
The one book every woman should read - this is the first story of girlpower - the fact that it is based on a bible story is not a big factor and could put people off, it shouldn't. It is a story of the special bond between women and their friendships. A powerful and beautiful book.

Passion and Betrayal, 24 May 2008
The fictional tale of Dinah who is only mentioned briefly in the Old Testament. I think that Anita Diamant has written a very moving tragedy of passion and betrayal using the historical background well. It is very different from Good Harbor which I read earlier. Although both titles are strongly based on the theme of friendships amongst women, just set in a different time and place. Personally I found Good Harbor easier to relate to because it is a contempory novel. However I did enjoy both novels very much and would recommend them to others.
The reviews here on amazon.co.uk are well worth reading, very varied opinions.

The Red Tent, 08 Apr 2008
I wonderful story that made me cry in a cafe full of people. A wonderful take on a time we rarely hear of through a woman's voice which reveals the extent of the role of women in creating if not taking part in momentous points in history.
I would recommend this book to anyone with an in women's history, midwifery, or just in search of a good read!

Absolutely dreadful earnest drivel, 02 Apr 2008
I read this book for my book club; would never have read it otherwise. I knew as soon as I saw the title that The Red Tent would refer to something menstrual, and sure enough, it's where the women gather for their periods, which, mysteriously, they all seem to have at the same time and always on the full moon. I mean, I know women are supposed to have their periods in sync if they live together, but a whole tribe of women?? God, this book was so boring. Endless details of childbirth, menstrual cycles, tedious 'womanly' issues (and I am writing this as a woman). The characters are all two dimensional. The writing is cliched and horribly earnest. I hate this sort of self-consciously 'empowered female' writing, in which women's characters are reduced to their menstrual cycles and hormones. I just cannot see why anyone would give it any stars let alone five stars. I have been forced to give it one star because of the Amazon system, but really it deserves no stars at all. Read the Old Testament instead - the language is so much better and the stories so much more powerful. (And I'm not even a Christian).

So Real it Will Make You Cry, 07 Jan 2008
It's rumored and many of the people in Gloucester, Massachusetts believe the folks over in Dogtown, a town that has been named for the pack of almost wild dogs who run free in the town that is hour's walk away, are witches, but they're not. They are simply outcasts, black folks, prostitutes, widows, drunks and the like. Folks they'd look down on, folks just trying to get by, dealing with the daily evils one might find if you are not gentry in 1814.

Dogtown is a small farming village by Cape Ann that failed to make it and so winds up being a town for those on the bottom rungs of society who mired in poverty or just plain lazy make do by selling berries or a brew the make from twigs and roots. However, their betters do not admire their endeavors, instead they make fun of them, call them trasheaters. In Dogtown those who can, get out.

We meet some of dogtown's residents at a funeral, like Ruth a black stonemason who happens to dress like a man (remember this is the early 1800s); a madam that is raising her grandson in her brothel; a couple of lesbian prostitutes among others; but the mourner who really grabs the reader's attention is Judy Rhines, a poor woman who had been abandoned by her father when she was eight years old. Judy is a sad and lonely woman who once had an affair with a freed slave, but she was forced to end the affair and now her heart only beats half the time. Her only companion now is one of the town dogs.

THE LAST DAYS OF DOGTOWN is a character study of the people mentioned above and others that will both take you back to a place in time where life was hard, sometimes cruel, often unfair and it make you glad you live when and where you do. Anita Diamant's people are sometimes too real, so real you want to cry, so real you will be thinking about them long after you finish this gorgeous story. Five stars from me.

Review Submitted by Captain Katie Osborne

Moving!, 19 Oct 2007
A moving read, that I felt able to relate to as it is about real life. It made me think about how much I miss my girlfiends back in the UK! Also as my mother is a breast cancer survivor I found the way Anita Diiamant
tackled this particularly interesting. Well worth reading.

Another lovely book from Anita Diament., 25 Jun 2006
I read this having just read 'Pitching my Tent' and 'The Red Tent'. Personally I preferred it to 'The Red Tent', perhaps because it's set in the present day as opposed to biblical times. I really felt I got to know the characters and wanted to get to know them even more. A really true portrayal of the growing relationship between two women.

Disappointing follow up, 25 Apr 2005
I was eagery awaiting this as I thought The Red Tent was a brilliant book but was an extremely dissapointing follow up. Although the story has potential the writing was wishy washy and the character development was poor. I found it hard to believe that this was the same author that wrote so well in The Red Tent. Lets hope she gets back on track with the next novel.

Better than the first!, 04 Jan 2005
Although I loved The Red Tent it left me feeling a bit empty. Good Harbour satisfied me from beginning to end. I loved getting to know the two main characters. I felt I was sharing in the special bond between them. It is an uncomplicated read about everyday life, meaningful but lighthearted and amusing in parts.

A Thought Provoking Read, 08 Jul 2004
This is a story about relationships and how those relationships change and develop when Kathleen is diagnosed with cancer.

Kathleen has seen some sad times, she saw her son killed in a car accident and her sister die from cancer. When Kathleen herself is diagnosed she goes through many emotional crises, finding it difficult to accept that the cancer she has is completely different to that of her sister.

Kathleen then meets Joyce, an author, who has recently bought a holiday home in the area and an amazing friendship develops. It is this friendship that pulls Kathleen through. When sad times arrive for Joyce, Kathleen is there for her to pick up the pieces.

Despite the subject this is a wonderful novel, not sad at all and in places very funny. I would recommend it to all.

So Real it Will Make You Cry, 07 Jan 2008
It's rumored and many of the people in Gloucester, Massachusetts believe the folks over in Dogtown, a town that has been named for the pack of almost wild dogs who run free in the town that is hour's walk away, are witches, but they're not. They are simply outcasts, black folks, prostitutes, widows, drunks and the like. Folks they'd look down on, folks just trying to get by, dealing with the daily evils one might find if you are not gentry in 1814.

Dogtown is a small farming village by Cape Ann that failed to make it and so winds up being a town for those on the bottom rungs of society who mired in poverty or just plain lazy make do by selling berries or a brew the make from twigs and roots. However, their betters do not admire their endeavors, instead they make fun of them, call them trasheaters. In Dogtown those who can, get out.

We meet some of dogtown's residents at a funeral, like Ruth a black stonemason who happens to dress like a man (remember this is the early 1800s); a madam that is raising her grandson in her brothel; a couple of lesbian prostitutes among others; but the mourner who really grabs the reader's attention is Judy Rhines, a poor woman who had been abandoned by her father when she was eight years old. Judy is a sad and lonely woman who once had an affair with a freed slave, but she was forced to end the affair and now her heart only beats half the time. Her only companion now is one of the town dogs.

THE LAST DAYS OF DOGTOWN is a character study of the people mentioned above and others that will both take you back to a place in time where life was hard, sometimes cruel, often unfair and it make you glad you live when and where you do. Anita Diamant's people are sometimes too real, so real you want to cry, so real you will be thinking about them long after you finish this gorgeous story. Five stars from me.

Review Submitted by Captain Katie Osborne

You'll want to lend this to every woman you know., 25 Jun 2006
This is such a lovely book! I read it over the course of a few days because you can read it in fits and starts as the chapters are so short. Lots of observations which you will recognise from your own life - I'm jewish, so it's quite relevant to me in places, but my non-jewish friends have all loved it too. Quiet, introspective and thought provoking.

Moving!, 19 Oct 2007
A moving read, that I felt able to relate to as it is about real life. It made me think about how much I miss my girlfiends back in the UK! Also as my mother is a breast cancer survivor I found the way Anita Diiamant
tackled this particularly interesting. Well worth reading.

Another lovely book from Anita Diament., 25 Jun 2006
I read this having just read 'Pitching my Tent' and 'The Red Tent'. Personally I preferred it to 'The Red Tent', perhaps because it's set in the present day as opposed to biblical times. I really felt I got to know the characters and wanted to get to know them even more. A really true portrayal of the growing relationship between two women.

Disappointing follow up, 25 Apr 2005
I was eagery awaiting this as I thought The Red Tent was a brilliant book but was an extremely dissapointing follow up. Although the story has potential the writing was wishy washy and the character development was poor. I found it hard to believe that this was the same author that wrote so well in The Red Tent. Lets hope she gets back on track with the next novel.

Better than the first!, 04 Jan 2005
Although I loved The Red Tent it left me feeling a bit empty. Good Harbour satisfied me from beginning to end. I loved getting to know the two main characters. I felt I was sharing in the special bond between them. It is an uncomplicated read about everyday life, meaningful but lighthearted and amusing in parts.

A Thought Provoking Read, 08 Jul 2004
This is a story about relationships and how those relationships change and develop when Kathleen is diagnosed with cancer.

Kathleen has seen some sad times, she saw her son killed in a car accident and her sister die from cancer. When Kathleen herself is diagnosed she goes through many emotional crises, finding it difficult to accept that the cancer she has is completely different to that of her sister.

Kathleen then meets Joyce, an author, who has recently bought a holiday home in the area and an amazing friendship develops. It is this friendship that pulls Kathleen through. When sad times arrive for Joyce, Kathleen is there for her to pick up the pieces.

Despite the subject this is a wonderful novel, not sad at all and in places very funny. I would recommend it to all.

Compelling, 27 Sep 2008
One I started I couldn't put it down! I loved this book from start to finish.

Girlpower at its best, 15 Aug 2008
The one book every woman should read - this is the first story of girlpower - the fact that it is based on a bible story is not a big factor and could put people off, it shouldn't. It is a story of the special bond between women and their friendships. A powerful and beautiful book.

Passion and Betrayal, 24 May 2008
The fictional tale of Dinah who is only mentioned briefly in the Old Testament. I think that Anita Diamant has written a very moving tragedy of passion and betrayal using the historical background well. It is very different from Good Harbor which I read earlier. Although both titles are strongly based on the theme of friendships amongst women, just set in a different time and place. Personally I found Good Harbor easier to relate to because it is a contempory novel. However I did enjoy both novels very much and would recommend them to others.
The reviews here on amazon.co.uk are well worth reading, very varied opinions.

The Red Tent, 08 Apr 2008
I wonderful story that made me cry in a cafe full of people. A wonderful take on a time we rarely hear of through a woman's voice which reveals the extent of the role of women in creating if not taking part in momentous points in history.
I would recommend this book to anyone with an in women's history, midwifery, or just in search of a good read!

Absolutely dreadful earnest drivel, 02 Apr 2008
I read this book for my book club; would never have read it otherwise. I knew as soon as I saw the title that The Red Tent would refer to something menstrual, and sure enough, it's where the women gather for their periods, which, mysteriously, they all seem to have at the same time and always on the full moon. I mean, I know women are supposed to have their periods in sync if they live together, but a whole tribe of women?? God, this book was so boring. Endless details of childbirth, menstrual cycles, tedious 'womanly' issues (and I am writing this as a woman). The characters are all two dimensional. The writing is cliched and horribly earnest. I hate this sort of self-consciously 'empowered female' writing, in which women's characters are reduced to their menstrual cycles and hormones. I just cannot see why anyone would give it any stars let alone five stars. I have been forced to give it one star because of the Amazon system, but really it deserves no stars at all. Read the Old Testament instead - the language is so much better and the stories so much more powerful. (And I'm not even a Christian).

Moving!, 19 Oct 2007
A moving read, that I felt able to relate to as it is about real life. It made me think about how much I miss my girlfiends back in the UK! Also as my mother is a breast cancer survivor I found the way Anita Diiamant
tackled this particularly interesting. Well worth reading.

Another lovely book from Anita Diament., 25 Jun 2006
I read this having just read 'Pitching my Tent' and 'The Red Tent'. Personally I preferred it to 'The Red Tent', perhaps because it's set in the present day as opposed to biblical times. I really felt I got to know the characters and wanted to get to know them even more. A really true portrayal of the growing relationship between two women.

Disappointing follow up, 25 Apr 2005
I was eagery awaiting this as I thought The Red Tent was a brilliant book but was an extremely dissapointing follow up. Although the story has potential the writing was wishy washy and the character development was poor. I found it hard to believe that this was the same author that wrote so well in The Red Tent. Lets hope she gets back on track with the next novel.

Better than the first!, 04 Jan 2005
Although I loved The Red Tent it left me feeling a bit empty. Good Harbour satisfied me from beginning to end. I loved getting to know the two main characters. I felt I was sharing in the special bond between them. It is an uncomplicated read about everyday life, meaningful but lighthearted and amusing in parts.

A Thought Provoking Read, 08 Jul 2004
This is a story about relationships and how those relationships change and develop when Kathleen is diagnosed with cancer.

Kathleen has seen some sad times, she saw her son killed in a car accident and her sister die from cancer. When Kathleen herself is diagnosed she goes through many emotional crises, finding it difficult to accept that the cancer she has is completely different to that of her sister.

Kathleen then meets Joyce, an author, who has recently bought a holiday home in the area and an amazing friendship develops. It is this friendship that pulls Kathleen through. When sad times arrive for Joyce, Kathleen is there for her to pick up the pieces.

Despite the subject this is a wonderful novel, not sad at all and in places very funny. I would recommend it to all.

Compelling, 27 Sep 2008
One I started I couldn't put it down! I loved this book from start to finish.

Girlpower at its best, 15 Aug 2008
The one book every woman should read - this is the first story of girlpower - the fact that it is based on a bible story is not a big factor and could put people off, it shouldn't. It is a story of the special bond between women and their friendships. A powerful and beautiful book.

Passion and Betrayal, 24 May 2008
The fictional tale of Dinah who is only mentioned briefly in the Old Testament. I think that Anita Diamant has written a very moving tragedy of passion and betrayal using the historical background well. It is very different from Good Harbor which I read earlier. Although both titles are strongly based on the theme of friendships amongst women, just set in a different time and place. Personally I found Good Harbor easier to relate to because it is a contempory novel. However I did enjoy both novels very much and would recommend them to others.
The reviews here on amazon.co.uk are well worth reading, very varied opinions.

The Red Tent, 08 Apr 2008
I wonderful story that made me cry in a cafe full of people. A wonderful take on a time we rarely hear of through a woman's voice which reveals the extent of the role of women in creating if not taking part in momentous points in history.
I would recommend this book to anyone with an in women's history, midwifery, or just in search of a good read!

Absolutely dreadful earnest drivel, 02 Apr 2008
I read this book for my book club; would never have read it otherwise. I knew as soon as I saw the title that The Red Tent would refer to something menstrual, and sure enough, it's where the women gather for their periods, which, mysteriously, they all seem to have at the same time and always on the full moon. I mean, I know women are supposed to have their periods in sync if they live together, but a whole tribe of women?? God, this book was so boring. Endless details of childbirth, menstrual cycles, tedious 'womanly' issues (and I am writing this as a woman). The characters are all two dimensional. The writing is cliched and horribly earnest. I hate this sort of self-consciously 'empowered female' writing, in which women's characters are reduced to their menstrual cycles and hormones. I just cannot see why anyone would give it any stars let alone five stars. I have been forced to give it one star because of the Amazon system, but really it deserves no stars at all. Read the Old Testament instead - the language is so much better and the stories so much more powerful. (And I'm not even a Christian).

So Real it Will Make You Cry, 07 Jan 2008
It's rumored and many of the people in Gloucester, Massachusetts believe the folks over in Dogtown, a town that has been named for the pack of almost wild dogs who run free in the town that is hour's walk away, are witches, but they're not. They are simply outcasts, black folks, prostitutes, widows, drunks and the like. Folks they'd look down on, folks just trying to get by, dealing with the daily evils one might find if you are not gentry in 1814.

Dogtown is a small farming village by Cape Ann that failed to make it and so winds up being a town for those on the bottom rungs of society who mired in poverty or just plain lazy make do by selling berries or a brew the make from twigs and roots. However, their betters do not admire their endeavors, instead they make fun of them, call them trasheaters. In Dogtown those who can, get out.

We meet some of dogtown's residents at a funeral, like Ruth a black stonemason who happens to dress like a man (remember this is the early 1800s); a madam that is raising her grandson in her brothel; a couple of lesbian prostitutes among others; but the mourner who really grabs the reader's attention is Judy Rhines, a poor woman who had been abandoned by her father when she was eight years old. Judy is a sad and lonely woman who once had an affair with a freed slave, but she was forced to end the affair and now her heart only beats half the time. Her only companion now is one of the town dogs.

THE LAST DAYS OF DOGTOWN is a character study of the people mentioned above and others that will both take you back to a place in time where life was hard, sometimes cruel, often unfair and it make you glad you live when and where you do. Anita Diamant's people are sometimes too real, so real you want to cry, so real you will be thinking about them long after you finish this gorgeous story. Five stars from me.

Review Submitted by Captain Katie Osborne

Moving!, 19 Oct 2007
A moving read, that I felt able to relate to as it is about real life. It made me think about how much I miss my girlfiends back in the UK! Also as my mother is a breast cancer survivor I found the way Anita Diiamant
tackled this particularly interesting. Well worth reading.

Another lovely book from Anita Diament., 25 Jun 2006
I read this having just read 'Pitching my Tent' and 'The Red Tent'. Personally I preferred it to 'The Red Tent', perhaps because it's set in the present day as opposed to biblical times. I really felt I got to know the characters and wanted to get to know them even more. A really true portrayal of the growing relationship between two women.

Disappointing follow up, 25 Apr 2005
I was eagery awaiting this as I thought The Red Tent was a brilliant book but was an extremely dissapointing follow up. Although the story has potential the writing was wishy washy and the character development was poor. I found it hard to believe that this was the same author that wrote so well in The Red Tent. Lets hope she gets back on track with the next novel.

Better than the first!, 04 Jan 2005
Although I loved The Red Tent it left me feeling a bit empty. Good Harbour satisfied me from beginning to end. I loved getting to know the two main characters. I felt I was sharing in the special bond between them. It is an uncomplicated read about everyday life, meaningful but lighthearted and amusing in parts.

A Thought Provoking Read, 08 Jul 2004
This is a story about relationships and how those relationships change and develop when Kathleen is diagnosed with cancer.

Kathleen has seen some sad times, she saw her son killed in a car accident and her sister die from cancer. When Kathleen herself is diagnosed she goes through many emotional crises, finding it difficult to accept that the cancer she has is completely different to that of her sister.

Kathleen then meets Joyce, an author, who has recently bought a holiday home in the area and an amazing friendship develops. It is this friendship that pulls Kathleen through. When sad times arrive for Joyce, Kathleen is there for her to pick up the pieces.

Despite the subject this is a wonderful novel, not sad at all and in places very funny. I would recommend it to all.

So Real it Will Make You Cry, 07 Jan 2008
It's rumored and many of the people in Gloucester, Massachusetts believe the folks over in Dogtown, a town that has been named for the pack of almost wild dogs who run free in the town that is hour's walk away, are witches, but they're not. They are simply outcasts, black folks, prostitutes, widows, drunks and the like. Folks they'd look down on, folks just trying to get by, dealing with the daily evils one might find if you are not gentry in 1814.

Dogtown is a small farming village by Cape Ann that failed to make it and so winds up being a town for those on the bottom rungs of society who mired in poverty or just plain lazy make do by selling berries or a brew the make from twigs and roots. However, their betters do not admire their endeavors, instead they make fun of them, call them trasheaters. In Dogtown those who can, get out.

We meet some of dogtown's residents at a funeral, like Ruth a black stonemason who happens to dress like a man (remember this is the early 1800s); a madam that is raising her grandson in her brothel; a couple of lesbian prostitutes among others; but the mourner who really grabs the reader's attention is Judy Rhines, a poor woman who had been abandoned by her father when she was eight years old. Judy is a sad and lonely woman who once had an affair with a freed slave, but she was forced to end the affair and now her heart only beats half the time. Her only companion now is one of the town dogs.

THE LAST DAYS OF DOGTOWN is a character study of the people mentioned above and others that will both ta