THE OTHER SIDE Rastaman Vibrations

The Other Side, Rastaman Vibrations depicts the turbulence of Jamaican life in the 1970s-early 80s through the passions and spiritual hunger of a young Jamaican man, Julius. Against a backdrop of the diaspora and simmering unrest, Julius wrestles with love, truth, and life. From the character, Rasta, what he learns surpasses human desire as he comes to a keen understanding of the hidden purpose of his own destiny. Despite overtones crime and violence, drug dealing, gang-land style executions, his story is linked by a common thread--love. It is not the sort based solely on a one sided, one-dimensional emotional attraction. It's the deep-rooted romantic kind such as that which young Julius harbors for his beloved Lorna, and vice versa Its the fatherly feeling and respect he has for the Dreadlock called Rasta and it's the close relationship he has with his doting grandmother Lunnette and for his late grand dad Pastor George Ayee.By the same token, the love he has for his real mother, Frances, whom he has just met, is unqualified for a young boy. At such an early age he shows that he has a good grasp on life that even another of his lady loves, his somewhat prudish aunt, Dr. Beverley Ayee, had predicted his movement when his mother "fell by the wayside." Set against the backdrop of late 70s and 80s Jamaica. "The Other Side Rastaman Vibrations" is a work of fiction that gives an interesting peek at Kingston, Jamaica, during the island's most turbulent phase in its history of political violence.The Other Side Rastaman Vibrations, is an interesting tale that often pits good against evil, physically and psychologically. Throughout the readers gets a glimpse at the sufferers, the not-so-well off and the privileged. Then it takes us on a journey to New York for a look-see at the operations of the Posses---those notorious Jamaican expatriate gangsters. Desmond Leveneʻs vivid description of Eastern Kingston indicates that he's a living proof of what he writes. Yet, he's not dogmatic nor overbearing, not even when he is speaking through the voice of wise old Rasta, Juliusʻ chief mentor.