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The Children of Sisyphus
A portrayal of Jamaica's Rastafarian community depicts the lives of those trapped in the poverty, crime, and religious extremism of the slums of Kingston
190 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1964
13 people are currently reading
521 people want to read
About the author
Orlando Patterson
26 books89 followersOrlando Patterson is John Cowles Professor of Sociology at Harvard University; the author of Freedom in the Making of Western Culture, which won the National Book Award for Nonfiction, and Slavery and Social Death; and the editor of The Cultural Matrix: Understanding Black Youth, for which he was awarded the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award for Lifetime Achievement. His work has been honored by the American Sociological Association and the American Political Science Association, among others, and he is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He served as Special Advisor for Social Policy and Development to Jamaican Prime Minister Michael Manley and was awarded the Order of Distinction by the Government of Jamaica.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 13, 2016
"The Children of Sisyphus" is, in my humble opinion, one of those books that you start using as a standard whenever you're reviewing other books. It's insightful, raw, moving and eye-opener. It is one of those books you don't want it to end, but you want to keep reading and, probably, you're already planning on rereading it even before you finish it.
"The Children of Sisyphus" is about life in the Dungle, the poorest and lowest part of the Jamaican capital. Brother Solomon and Dinah are its main characters, and it is their stories what left me flabberghasted. Brother Solomon is a Rastafarian waiting for a ship sent by the promise land, but is his faith an illusion? Dinah has ambition and wants to live a decent life, but is life outside the Dungle any better? Along with their stories we are also presented with Mary, Cyrus and other characters who, like the myth of Sisyphus, find themselves at the bottom of the hill seconds after they thought they had finally made it to the top.
Orlando Patterson has the ability to make you experience the mysticism of the Rastafarians at their meeting on the beach and the initiation of Dinah in the Revival Zion Baptist of God Church. Orlando Patterson takes us by the hand into a tour around the Dungle with raw descriptions that do not look to shock but to open your eyes to the whole reality of Jamaica. There are not caribbean beaches, patties, rum and lush descriptions of landscapes in this novel, but a slice of real life in the poorer parts of Kingston.
Descriptions are in standard English and dialogues in local slang. At firt, it wasn't that easy to get into the dialogues, but considering I don't speak English as my native language, I adapted easily to it to the point of even understading how its grammar and syntax worked.
This is my first Jamaican novel by a Jamaican author, so, perhaps, this is what is making me praise this book so highly. However, I think that this is one of those books you never forget and you are able to recall even after years of having read it.
"The Children of Sisyphus" is about life in the Dungle, the poorest and lowest part of the Jamaican capital. Brother Solomon and Dinah are its main characters, and it is their stories what left me flabberghasted. Brother Solomon is a Rastafarian waiting for a ship sent by the promise land, but is his faith an illusion? Dinah has ambition and wants to live a decent life, but is life outside the Dungle any better? Along with their stories we are also presented with Mary, Cyrus and other characters who, like the myth of Sisyphus, find themselves at the bottom of the hill seconds after they thought they had finally made it to the top.
Orlando Patterson has the ability to make you experience the mysticism of the Rastafarians at their meeting on the beach and the initiation of Dinah in the Revival Zion Baptist of God Church. Orlando Patterson takes us by the hand into a tour around the Dungle with raw descriptions that do not look to shock but to open your eyes to the whole reality of Jamaica. There are not caribbean beaches, patties, rum and lush descriptions of landscapes in this novel, but a slice of real life in the poorer parts of Kingston.
Descriptions are in standard English and dialogues in local slang. At firt, it wasn't that easy to get into the dialogues, but considering I don't speak English as my native language, I adapted easily to it to the point of even understading how its grammar and syntax worked.
This is my first Jamaican novel by a Jamaican author, so, perhaps, this is what is making me praise this book so highly. However, I think that this is one of those books you never forget and you are able to recall even after years of having read it.
January 7, 2021
This is one of those books you read and feel every single emotion of the characters and connect with them on so many levels! It is also one that I can read multiple times and still read again! I savored every page of this book. Orlando gives a look into the lives of those riddled with poverty, women constantly trying to make better for themselves by all means necessary and the sad truth about parenthood. Although more than one protagonist, I felt like I was watching a 90s or 80s Jamaican soap although I was reading!
June 27, 2016
This book defined a moment in time. It is unrepentant in being grim from the beginning to the end.
January 12, 2025
Powerful book with an air of existentialist philosophy combined with meditations on colonialism, class and religion. I’m not a fiction person generally so I didn’t find the act of reading the boom overly engaging but cannot deny the value and power of the book, and compared to most novels I found it more engaging than usual.
Occasional scenes of SA/rape made me uncomfortable in the way it positioned the woman as enjoying it, but this may have been a deliberate choice by the author to show the degradation of the setting rather than a sexist portrayal of sex. Likewise, the intense religious scenes were slightly uncomfortable reading, as an atheist, but was clearly tied together in the last few chapters as being a misguided attempt to solve the ‘absurdity’ of life, which the last few chapters reveal to be a futile attempt and that the people of the Dungle, in a powerful conclusion, have no salvation awaiting them to give meaning to their poverty and suffering.
Definitely a book that will stick with me for quite some time and gives me a lot to think about through its quality as a literal story, a philosophical allegory on existentialism and a sociological look at race, class and gender.
Occasional scenes of SA/rape made me uncomfortable in the way it positioned the woman as enjoying it, but this may have been a deliberate choice by the author to show the degradation of the setting rather than a sexist portrayal of sex. Likewise, the intense religious scenes were slightly uncomfortable reading, as an atheist, but was clearly tied together in the last few chapters as being a misguided attempt to solve the ‘absurdity’ of life, which the last few chapters reveal to be a futile attempt and that the people of the Dungle, in a powerful conclusion, have no salvation awaiting them to give meaning to their poverty and suffering.
Definitely a book that will stick with me for quite some time and gives me a lot to think about through its quality as a literal story, a philosophical allegory on existentialism and a sociological look at race, class and gender.
May 24, 2019
The Children of Sisiphus is a compelling tale of human hope and failure underscored by the practice of evangelism and Rastafarianism. The book's small evangelical congregation and the negative perception of marijuana by authority figures contrasts with the rise of mega-evangelism world-wide and the modern interest in in legalizing marijuana for recreational and medical purposes, rather than regarding it as a destructive herb.
March 12, 2017
This novel was really well done. I enjoyed reading the stories of these characters. Their stories, dreams and aspirations were understandable. I really feel for many of them.
The novel is one of the most realistic novels around. I kept on waiting for things to get better and it just did not happen. I thought at least one person would make it, but they didn't. I think that happens in life. The most fascinating part of this novel is the explanation of life at the end by Brother Solomon. I was completely drawn in by his words.
The only part of the novel that did not hold my interest was the couple chapters with Dinah in the Church, until the chaos at the end.
The novel is one of the most realistic novels around. I kept on waiting for things to get better and it just did not happen. I thought at least one person would make it, but they didn't. I think that happens in life. The most fascinating part of this novel is the explanation of life at the end by Brother Solomon. I was completely drawn in by his words.
The only part of the novel that did not hold my interest was the couple chapters with Dinah in the Church, until the chaos at the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 14, 2021
This author is very great.
August 9, 2012
Hmmmmm…I’m torn. First published in 1964, this book is written well, very well. The patois is accessible, true and accurate. The narrative however is unquestionably grim, so you’ll have to be in the right frame of mind. Set in the slums of Kingston some time ago, the story circles on three characters who desperately seek a way of escaping their sad and grubby existence. They never make it! The author – Patterson, starts you off on a low and takes you even lower. If you’re into Rastafarianism or Revivalism then this may appeal to you. I found a copy of this book in my mother’s loft in a state of decay – needless to say, I shall be placing it back!
January 22, 2013
In Greek Mythology, Sisyphus was a king of Ephyra, punished by being compelled to roll an immense boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll back down, and to repeat this action forever
This should say everything about the book I think.
No sense in bitching and moaning and looking for upliftment from it for you own life.
This book was put out there to show you what life is like for people in the lowest of lows, where there is no direction save for going up, but you find all kinda of things anchoring you down. This book open my eyes to some of the sadness in the world and I appreciate that. That is what I have grasped from this book.
It is a struggle in the slums...
This should say everything about the book I think.
No sense in bitching and moaning and looking for upliftment from it for you own life.
This book was put out there to show you what life is like for people in the lowest of lows, where there is no direction save for going up, but you find all kinda of things anchoring you down. This book open my eyes to some of the sadness in the world and I appreciate that. That is what I have grasped from this book.
It is a struggle in the slums...
June 14, 2007
About politics, slum-life, and rastafarianism in Jamaica. All topics I find interesting and applicable to my work (academic and volunteer) but not the most engaging. I'm reading it in spurts, and it's taking me a few months to get through the relatively short book.
October 21, 2020
Someone needs to republish this book in the USA to make it more easily accessible. It really is a literary classic for people from any country.
March 27, 2024
had to read for a course, absolutely hated!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews