When Banana Stains Fade: A Jamaican Family Saga of Adversity and Redemption

by Frances-Marie Coke

“When Banana Stains Fade will draw its readers into the compelling drama of over four generations of a Jamaican family, told through the lifeline of its women.” –Rachel Manley, author and winner of 1997 Governor General’s Award for Literature in Canada for Memories of a Jamaican Childhood

When twenty-six-year-old Zarah returns home in 2002, desperate to reconcile with the family she abandoned, their first night together revives memories of events that led to her abandonment and their hopes fizzle.

Their reflections take the reader back to the inciting event years before… her thirteenth birthday, the onslaught of Hurricane Gilbert, her mother's shocking miscarriage, and her parents' separation.

Determined to warn Zarah against life's treacheries, her grandmother Naomi discloses ugly societal and family secrets, but Zarah distances herself, scoffing at hints of a curse hatched on a banana field decades before.

As damaged as the ancestors she once disdained, Zarah finds true friendship at a support group, accepts culpability, and finds her way home to battle for the awakening and reconciliation essential to wholeness.

When her grandmother dies, Esther and Bradley travel with Zarah to the spot Naomi requested, and she sprinkles her grandmother's ashes over the ocean, standing on the threshold of her second chance to become "the right person."

Genres: Historical Fiction

287 pages, Paperback

Published April 10, 2024

About the author

Frances-Marie Coke was born in Jamaica. An educator with experience at secondary and tertiary institutions in Jamaica, her qualifications include the Master of Arts in Educational Psychology (University of the West Indies, Mona) and the Master of Arts (English) Northwestern State University of Louisiana.

She has been writing since her early twenties and has written poetry, fiction, and drama for stage and radio.

Frances-Marie relocated to Florida in 2008 but maintains strong links with Jamaica and continues to write about her home. She has continued her involvement in education, working as a Writing Studio Coordinator and adjunct faculty member at tertiary institutions in Port St. Lucie.

As a member of the Caribbean American Cultural Group, one of Port St. Lucie’s premier philanthropic organizations, she continues to contribute to the development of young people through CACG’s MLK/Scholarship Committee. CACG marks its 40th anniversary this year, and is especially proud of its annual Dr. Martin Luther King celebration and its flagship scholarship program, which has supported college-bound students to the tune of over $166,000 to date.

Frances-Marie has published four books; the first, a volume of poems, The Balm of Dusk Lilies, was published by the Jamaica Observer Literary Publications and her second volume, Intersections, was published by Peepal Tree Press (Leeds. United Kingdom). Her poems have been published in The Jamaica Observer Literary series, Bearing Witness 1, 2, and 3; Kunapipi (Journal of Postcolonial Writing), and The Caribbean Writer. She has been awarded The Daily News Prize for Poetry by The Caribbean Writer.

Her poem “Still I See” was published in Jubilation, an anthology published in 2012 in celebration of Jamaica’s fiftieth year of independence.

In 2020 in association with iUniverse, she published her teaching memoir, The Spirit of Clovelly Park: Learning and teaching at Kingston College.

Her latest work When Banana Stains Fade: A Jamaican Family Saga of Adversity and Redemption was published by Black Rose Writing in April 2024. In Coke’s words, “I felt compelled to record the island’s beauty alongside its struggles, and to celebrate the resilient, courageous “Jamaican Family,” which despite being described as irreparably broken, remains the island’s backbone.” The novel’s strong sense of time and place and its depiction of ordinary life shaped by lasting remnants of colonization will appeal to discerning readers across genders and age groups from early to advanced adulthood. Readers with Caribbean roots will appreciate strong echoes of their own stories.

Can faith and resilience overcome legacies of a dirt-poor banana field, flawed traditions, and family estrangement? Award-winning Jamaican-Canadian author Rachel Manley thinks so. “In a narrative that is hard to put down, Coke traces both a family’s story and the modern history of her island Jamaica, her message ultimately uplifting: ‘…her glorious little island prevails.’”

Copies of When Banana Stains Fade are available from the author at major booksellers, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble (in paperback and e-book formats), and at the publisher’s website – https://www.blackrosewriting.com/

Reviews

[Adeana Libman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Henry Roi PR for the opportunity to review this book!

I truly do not have many criticisms about this novel at all. Coke is a fantastic writer. This book was written with so much care and precision, I felt like I was searching for something to critique by the end of it just to ease my own mind. Having such a succinct retelling of the backstories of Pearlie, Naomi, Esther, and Zarah was so beautiful as it helped show us how each woman was shaped and became the person they were by the end of the novel. The intergenerational traumas that affect us are so real, Coke truly exhibited that well. The growth and relationship development was also very well done. It was realistic. There was not immediate forgiveness and happy ending, everyone had to work to get to the point where they ended. I really felt for each of these spectacular women as they faced their trials a tribulations; from abuse, racism, rape, miscarriage, and death, it was not immediate overcoming of obstacles but the idea that community and family can help us eventually face what those traumas have done to us.

My only minor issue was that the change of timelines did confuse me at a couple points, but I was always able to regain my place.

I would read so much more by Frances-Marie Coke, she has a wonderful voice! 4.5/5

[Julie Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spoilers: When Banana Stains Fade: A Jamaican Family Saga of Adversity and Redemption by Frances-Marie Coke is the second book in a row dealing with intergenerational conflicts concerning mother and daughters after Red Gifts in The Garden of Stones by P.A. Swanborough. While the latter trod a thin line between the reality of the family in question’s situation and the fantasy of their pagan past, the former has no such detours into the fantastic. It is firmly set in the reality of racism, poverty, classicism, gender inequality, domestic violence, and generational conflicts. All of this is in a setting that is quite familiar with this blog. In fact, it was a setting that was quite common in the books that I read and reviewed last year: Jamaica.

In 2002, Zarah left New York for her childhood home of Jamaica. Her parents, Esther and Bradley and grandmother, Naomi are worried and anxious about their daughter's sorrowful return and her memories of an unhappy abusive marriage left behind in New York. Esther’s concern is also joined by loving but strident remainders that she told Zarah that her marriage wouldn't end well. Her kind anxious demeanor often features acidic attacks on Zarah’s choices and personality. This behavior causes their already volatile relationship to become even more strained and leads to threats of estrangement between mother and daughter. Naomi views the conflict with empathy and understanding. After all she had been through something similar with Esther, just as her mother, Pearlie and Aunt Eudora had been through with her, and their mother, Agatha had been through with them. So the Reader is treated to over 100 years of Jamaican history seen through the eyes of five generations of six fascinating women.

What is particularly fascinating and compelling about this book is that it ignores the touristy side of Jamaica. Oh, some of it’s there: the beautiful landscape, the friendly hospitable locals, the Rastafarian religion and its beliefs. There is even a shout out to author Sir Ian Fleming, who made Jamaica his home as he wrote his James Bond novels. But they are largely left in the background. Instead, we are shown what life was and is like for the locals and all is definitely not paradise for the people who live there.

The forefront of the book features many of the truths that lie within Jamaica’s sandy beaches and reggae music. It is a history of colonization and racism. It is a present of poverty, economic disparity, and domestic violence. These issues are not treated with bold overlines and dramatic emphasis. Instead they are seen and experienced by the people, specifically the family that encounters them.

We are first told of Zarah’s return and her fractured relationship with her parents. We are then treated to a flashback of an affair that Esther had which ended in her divorce and Zarah’s anger at her mother. The majority of the book consists of flashbacks that begin in 1900 with Agatha, Zarah’s great great grandmother and Esther’s great grandmother. Through this family, we see the conflicts that mark one generation and cause friction with the next.

Agatha works in a sleepy town and is dominated by her religious family, particularly her father. She is told by women around her to just accept whatever treatment that she gets from men. With only that advice in hand, she enters into a relationship with Mas’ Watson, a well-off farmer. Watson gives Agatha two daughters: Eudora and Pearlie. Agatha works to gather and tag bananas to help support her family but can’t avoid the stares and innuendo that people have about her daughters.

People gossip about Pearlie’s darker skin compared to Eudora who is much lighter. They marvel at the latter’s perceived beauty and predict that she will go far in life. They shake their heads in dread at Pearlie and believe that she will have a future of hardship. Even Agatha’s attempts to straighten Pearlie’s hair or give her lemon juice to lighten her complexion do not hide her real appearance.

Many degrade the young girl and Mas’ Watson shows preferential treatment towards Eudora. This shows that even when many people are from the same race, there is unfortunately still division within that race. Sometimes there are stereotypical racist beliefs about the difference between people who are from the same basic skin color but whose shades are darker or lighter and hair is straight or curly.

The scrutiny of Agatha’s daughter’s different skin tones and accusations of whether they had different fathers fill the sisters’ lives up to when they attend school. The outrage becomes so bad that after she is raped, Pearlie runs away. She resides in another village where she gives birth to her daughter, Naomi and enters into a relationship with Bertie, a man whose family helps the single mother get back on her feet. Unfortunately, Pearlie’s happiness is cut short and Naomi finds herself alone and friendless like her mother.

Naomi ends up living with her cold religious Aunt Eudora. Eudora at first doesn’t even want to take in the girl but she is convinced to do so because of her commitment to Christian duty and how it would look within her community to reject her own flesh and blood. Out of rebellion, Naomi attends the local Catholic church and rejects many of the spiritual teachings from her aunt.

Naomi falls in love with Miles, a musician who spins fantasies within her about moving to America and starting a new life. That isn’t all that he spins within her. No sooner is she pregnant with her daughter, Esther, than she too is left behind like her mother and grandmother before her.

In the most harrowing section, Naomi enters an unhappy second marriage to Pastor Bloomfield. Bloomfield’s abusive and controlling nature is present as he micromanages her schedule down to prayer times and how long she can meet her friends. He won’t allow her to find a career outside of caring for his home and church. In a very classicist gesture, he forces her to stop using the Jamaican patois and speak the standard British English.

Because of her limited relationship with her biological family and limited resources, Naomi is trapped in an abusive marriage with someone who she thought was a man of God but turned out to be someone who thought that he was God and had a private church of two worshippers: his wife and stepdaughter.

A very terrifying encounter breaks Bloomfield’s hold on Naomi and Esther and the two rebuild their lives elsewhere. Naomi reverts to the spiritual beliefs that had always provided her comfort and in an act of defiance against her ex, reverts back to the Jamaican patois that her he ridiculed.

With the generations of Agatha, Pearlie, Eudora, and Naomi we see mothers struggling with problems of racism, poverty, religious dogma, and domestic violence. Each one works and hopes that the younger generation will succeed where they failed. With Esther and Zarah, we see the results of those dashed dreams, the desire to escape, and how that unhappiness and disappointment played into their relationships as mother and daughter and the men in their lives.

Even though Esther had a comparatively happy marriage to Bradley as compared to her mother’s with Brookfield and great-grandmother’s with Mas’ Watson, even she had troubles. In 1988, Esther reunited with her former boyfriend, Patrick who lived an affluent life in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. She had been living a meager existence with Bradley scraping for every dollar and was growing tired of the struggle. She dreamed not only of a different wealthy life in Florida but of the dashing man who could have given it to her.

Thoughts become actions during a hurricane and Esther ends up with a miscarriage, a divorce, and a resentful daughter. What was truly heartbreaking in hindsight was that Bradley is an easygoing, steady, kind hearted man. His laid back nature could have provided a contrast to Esther’s more rigid strident domineering control over Zarah’s life. Zarah could have had an ally when arguing with her mother. Instead she reacted to strictness with rebellion and ran away. Esther only realizes when Zarah returns that Bradley has a peculiar strength in his blundering kindness that she overlooked.

Zarah is considered the great hope of the family. Her mother puts enormous pressure on her to succeed well in school and have the right friends. She becomes something of an overachiever with dreams of escaping Jamaica. However, she also falls in love with Damien, considering him a reprieve from her mother’s tight control and secrets which caused her family to implode.

Unlike her antecedents, who only dreamt of a life away from the island, Zarah managed to get away and form a life for herself. But her independence came with a price tag: that of being married to the abusive Damien.

The freedom that Zarah thought that she would experience being away from Jamaica becomes even more of a trap in New York. She is beaten, insulted, and criticized. Worse, she is isolated in a new country where she is an immigrant and has very few friends.

However, Zarah continues to work and study, raising money in secret. She befriends a woman who takes a maternal interest into her life and helps steer her into a good direction. Zarah’s drive to get out of the abusive situation shows her to be someone who learned enough from the earlier generation to plan an escape and make a new life for herself even if it means retreating to the homes of Mom and Dad for a while.

Agatha, Pearlie, Eudora, Naomi, Esther, and Zarah all lived very difficult traumatic troubled lives but they found strength in other places. Sometimes it was through close friendships, surrogate family members, their religious faith, future goals, or aspirations. Most importantly they learned from each other. Even when they didn’t always get along and fought endlessly, their inner strength and love for each other is always shown as are their hopes that the daughters will have better lives than the mother’s.

Sometimes those dreams didn’t always come true and depended on the next generation to make it happen. Most importantly they had each other to find comfort, sanctuary, and guides to see them through the tough times and learn from them.

[S.M. Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although told in chapters that skip around the ages, this multi-generational family saga starts with Pearlie, a poor Jamaican girl who is reviled by her family and her community for her dark skin. Each successive generation of mothers struggles to improve their lives through better jobs and education, and while the general trend is positive, the trajectory is far from straight. Plenty of hardship, cruelty and dangerous characters interject landmines along the journey.

They all deal with an internal struggle that matches the intensity of their external challenges: their mother-daughter relationships. Communication difficulties are inherent in families –missed openings to connect, hurtful words never withdrawn, rejected invitations to open up, barbs that distract from underlying pain and fear. Sometimes I find watching or reading about characters who keep missing these opportunities frustrating but not so in this case, because Coke builds the context of the world so well that you completely understand how history, Jamaican tradition, racism, sexism and poverty make the obstacles to true communication seem unsurmountable. The result is mothers who provide only rudimentary and vague cautions to their daughters about men, pregnancy and marriage, rarely speaking the “hard things” that need to be said to prepare their children for the world.

I loved the colorful colloquialisms sprinkled throughout the prose, from pithy advice passed down by previous generations to descriptive language that is as lush as a banana grove. The themes, conflicts, hopes and dreams of the Jamaican women are universal and will be recognized by mothers and daughters everywhere.

[Celeste Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Generational Trauma
This book is one of the best novels I’ve read that highlights the shackles that generational trauma places on families. It filters into the very fabric of a family dynamic.

In ‘When Banana Stains Fade’, we witness how difficult it is to remove the ‘stain’ that sexual assault places on a close-knit community that is held together by outdated and dangerous norms.

The story starts when Zarah returns to Jamaica after running off with a man her family disapproved of. She was warned that she too could be cursed like her mother, grandmother and great grandmother had been. She left without saying goodbye and had been living in New York for years. However, even living in another country couldn’t save her from the family curse of abusive relationships. Zarah is raped.

While still in New York, Zarah accepts an invitation to a support group. Previous generations of women in her family kept their trauma to themselves. She may not realize it at first, but Zarah took the first step that could break the cycle of abuse by talking about it.

When she finds the courage to return home, Zarah finally listens to the stories her grandmother Naomi tells her and accept that her experiences with sexual assault was not that different from so many in her family, starting with her great grandmother Pearlie.

Through knowledge, understanding and acceptance, Zarah rebuilds her bonds with her family. Especially with her mother Esther who broke Zarah’s trust after an affair that caused Zarah’s parents to divorce.

I found this book captivating because it delves into family dynamics that are cemented in the past. It takes a strong woman to break the cycle and Zarah, despite her faults, manages to change the course for future generations.

Theme: Generational trauma. Resilience. Redemption

[Diane Nagatomo · Rating 5 out of 5]

“When Banana Stains Fade” by Frances-Marie Coke is a heart rendering tale that takes us through multiple timelines from the 1930s to the early 2000s to show the struggles of three Jamaican woman as they deal with societal issues related to color/racism, gender, and poverty and familial ones such as maternal bonds and the desire for independence. I was particularly struck by how vulnerable the women in this story were, particularly in the 1930s. Education and family support was the key to survive and advance, but even then, unscrupulous men with power grabbed the advantage. The lives of four generations of women are described—from Esther’s mother, to Esther, to Naomi, and finally to Zarah. Each woman only wants the best for her daughter. If only they knew how to communicate with their daughters about life, much of the heartbreak might have been avoided. But when these women’s stories merge, there is a feeling of optimism for the future generation.

I don’t believe I’ve read a book set in Jamaica before, and it was a little difficult at first to become accustomed to the Jamaican dialect in some conversations. But that, plus the vivid descriptions, not only of Jamaica but of a Jamaican New York City, made this book a fascinating read. I found myself feeling so empathetic for these women and rooting for them at every turn. Thank you, Net Galley. and to the publisher for an ARC of this book. My opinion is my own.

[Dawn Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frances-Marie Coke's novel When Banana Stains Fade offers a historical view of Jamaican culture and family identity through the eyes of four generations of women who deal with family secrets and adversities. The heartbreaking stories of Pearlie, Zarah, Naomi, and Esther show how they have struggled against colonialism, racism, abuse, and male privilege and how their courage helped the women survive. They pass along their hard-earned lessons to the younger women in the family, often crafting those lessons into memorable proverbs--a few of which I now have hanging above my computer.

Coke's writing deftly depicts the women by creating dialogue that brings each of the women to life. With a knowledgeable use of Jamaican dialect and a great balance of drama and humor, Coke draws the daily struggles each woman endures, as well as weaving in the historical connections they all share.

When Banana Stains Fade is an insightful, beautifully written, and brave page-turner. I look forward to reading more of her work.

[Dawn Angella · Rating 5 out of 5]

"When Banana Stains Fade" intricately explores a Jamaican family's journey across four generations, focusing on four resilient women facing societal and familial struggles.

The story chronicles the heartbreaking adversities of Pearlie, Esther, Naomi and Zarah as they struggle with issues related to colourism, prejudice and poverty.

At the core of the novel are the challenges that arise out of mother-daughter relationships which primarily stem from communication difficulties and missed opportunities to express with clarity their vulnerabilities and errors.

Despite communication barriers and adversities, the story ultimately resonates with themes of resilience and hope for a better future, making it a compelling read for those interested in a family saga and the spirit of perseverance.

An authentic Jamaican story that will keep hoping for the best possible outcome for the characters.

[Elaine B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliantly Jamaican story, but also a story about everything, to be enjoyed by everyone. You become so invested in the fate of this inter-generational family, as they move from country to town, from Jamaica to “foreign,” from the 50s to the 2000s, that you can hardly bear to put the book down. Coke’s characters stay with you as you appreciate the women, the children, and the men. She does not allow you to take sides, even when you think you should. Her rich, thoughtful description of events that are inherently unpleasant - even dying, reminiscent of Toni Morrison’s Sula - is sheer genius. The action and scenery call for a movie, and no need for a sequel as the denouement is totally satisfying. The famed Jamaican resilience and hopefulness will not allow those banana stains to last forever - they absolutely must fade. Coke’s incursion into fiction with this first novel leaves you seriously wanting more. This is modern Jamaican storytelling at its best.

[Barbara Luker · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Banana Stains Fade—A Jamaican Family Saga Of Adversity And Redemption is a hauntingly, beautiful retelling of the story of generations of a Jamaican family. For those unfamiliar with Jamaican culture, it is a deep dive into the culture’s inherited beliefs and challenges passed on from one generation to the next. Author Francis Marie Coke weaves an intricate trail between multi-generations of one family. The writing is laced with detailed descriptions of poverty, discrimination and the fear shared by every parent that the mistakes of prior generations will stain their children. Coke’s story leaves readers with renewed hope that the mistakes of the past can be overcome and serves as a reminder that family is who you can always come home to. ~ Author Barbara A. Luker

[Franklyn Eaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing tale spanning 5 generations of a Jamaican family. A riveting account of adversity set in Jamaica but really could be anywhere in the world. The book is gripping, and the author keeps you spell-bound as we journey between the 1900s and early 2000s. Frances-Marie Coke has mastered the art of telling a story that is reminiscent of James Patterson; there is no fluff just a dam good plot and excellent writing.
The book deals with some very difficult topics like rape, child abuse, teenage sex & pregnancy, physical abuse and colorism. These are very difficult subjects to tackle in a book and I really think that the author handled them with great skill.
This is a book that must be on everyone’s reading list. I cannot wait to see either a mini-series or movie.

[Marianne Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Banana Stains Fade by Frances-Marie Coke is an incredibly moving exploration of family, identity, and redemption. I love how Frances-Marie Coke beautifully portrays four generations of a Jamaican family, focusing on the strength of its women, but she also wrote about the complexities of the men. Zarah's journey of self-discovery is raw and emotional, and the way the story connects her personal struggles to the broader history of her ancestors makes the narrative all the more compelling. Themes like social inequity, the impact of history on culture, and the secrets that shape family bonds are handled with such care. This book left me thinking long after I finished it, especially about the role of redemption and forgiveness. Definitely a must-read!

[Kristy Kloster · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Banana Stains Fade beautifully captures the heart of Jamaican culture and the resilience of its people. The stories of multiple generations have emotion, history, and cultural depth. The character of Zarah is interesting; her journey back home and her family's past kept me fully engaged.

The narrative doesn’t shy away from the complexities of life—touching on themes like reconciliation, societal expectations, and family secrets—but it does so with a delicacy and sensitivity that feels authentic and profound.

This book left me feeling a mix of sadness, hope, and admiration for the strength of its characters. It’s a must-read for anyone who appreciates a well-written family saga that explores the depths of human emotions and the enduring bonds of love and heritage.

[DL Heim · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely, evocative novel! The characters are both achingly flawed and deeply human, the plot has the feel of a story told in the bits and pieces of a confessional, and the prose has the lilt of poetry. We follow the story of Zarah, the latest incarnation of multiple generations of women who struggle against, and at times succumb to, the forces of cultural oppression, internalized racism and superstition, the “stain” of banana leaves. Like “Grams” Naomi, it appears that author Frances-Marie Coke has woven the jumble of her life experiences into a beautiful tapestry. Highly recommend for those who enjoy immersive historical fiction.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frances-Marie Coke’s novel is as vibrant as Jamaica itself. When Banana Stains Fade is a story of a family across generations, told primarily through the experiences of its women. Realistic and lyrical, Coke’s compelling story brings their resilience and vitality to life. I loved her multifaceted depiction of these women, who find strength in themselves, their relationship with each other, and their culture. When Banana Stains Fade takes us on an immersive visit to the real Jamaica, filled with real characters and their challenges, some external, and others self-imposed. I look forward to seeing more from this author.

[Kay Smith-Blum · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a sweeping narrative reminiscent of Lily King‘s Euphoria, Frances-Marie Coke serves up the effects of generational poverty and the stark realities of colonization. Set mostly in the luscious landscape of Jamaica, across a century, When Banana Stains Fade brims with relatable characters and women of indomitable spirit—Naomi may be my favorite—who inevitably must endure the same arduous rites of passage to come through stronger. With sometimes poetic language—“tears that had dried up…slipped out in sullen pairs”—Coke shows us how the family we choose for ourselves can sometimes lead us back home. - Kay Smith-Blum, author, debut novel Tangles coming Nov 2024

[Glen Laman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frances-Marie Coke has a written an outstanding debut novel in When Banana Stains Fade. It's a really real Jamaican story that grabs you from the first page and you won't put down until the end. It's a story that resonates with many Jamaican families.

She skillfully weaves several unrelenting themes that have plagued Jamaican society for generations into a gripping family drama that explores our national psyche that propels Jamaicans to succeed despite the many daunting obstacles that they must traverse.

I highly recommend this book. Two thumbs up!

~ Glen Laman, Author of Jamaican Entrepreneurship; The Hero of Fern Gully and Other Jamaican Short Stories.

[Adelle Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gorgeous tale of the real Jamaica - a tale that encompasses four generations of women, and every tier of society. This is not the Jamaica of reggae culture. It is everything else - the beauty of the land, the resilience of its people in the face of every setback, the connection of a people to the land they love, and above all else - the release of old wounds. Despite its fierce and unflinching realism, it cannot help but to be magical. At times as atmospheric as a secret garden, as mysterious as the tea leaves, and as hopeful and resplendent as the dawn.

[Darcy Casey]

An expansive tale spanning five generations of women--mothers and daughters and found family--that explores race, class, justice, and more. Most of all, this is a harrowing story of the power of what goes unsaid and the strength it takes to bridge divides rooted not in distance, but in the heart. This is a must-read for fans of generational dramas and multicultural, multi-class histories. I found myself loving all these women, for all their generosity and flaws, and cheering for them to find the peace and love they deserve.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one where I was quite taken by the title and then thought it sounded interesting. I found myself absolutely immersed in this multi-generational family saga. Set mostly in Jamaica, Coke takes you behind the scenes of this idyllic shushed island, out of the touristy parts and gives you a really good insight into what it is like for locals to live there. Covering a lot of issues such as racism socio-economic one and family violence.

Set over a hundred year time period, we get to know multiple women from the same family. We start off in modern times with Zarah, then go back in time to get to know the previous generations Esther, Naomi, Pearlie and Agatha. We get to know each of their women, the issues they faced during their and learn their secrets. From having too dark skin to hurricanes miscarriage, divorce and how hard it is to make a life in a new country. I found myself particularly connected with Zarah. The different women’s story really illustrated how trauma is passed on through generations. Coke’s writing is lyrical, I did find having the same characters popping up in different timelines a bit confusing at times but really enjoyed learning more about Jamaica and its culture.

[Stephanie Benoist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zarah returns to her Jamaican home after a horrific experience in new York, which is slowly revealed throughout the book. "When Banana Stains Fade" starts as a modern family drama of divorce and shattered illusions that could unfold in any setting. However, the narrative timeline shifts abruptly into a stunning, brilliantly woven intergenerational tale, bathed in the traditions and culture of Jamaica and highlighting the particular struggles facing women in the Carribbean. This is a beautifully woven tale of love, healing, and forgiveness.

[Anna Mullin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is set in Jamaica and takes us through multiple time lines, following four generations of women. Starting in the 2000s and jumping all the way back to the 1930s.

This book is not my normal read and I found it to be extremely hard hitting. Touching on very real but heavy topics such as rape, miscarriage, poverty and domestic violence to name a few.

Whilst this was a difficult book to read due to these topics I found that I really enjoyed it and the story is so well written. I will definitely be picking up more books by the author in the future.

[Lana Ho-Shing]

This engaging historical family saga describes the unmooring of love, societal brutality, and loss of Faith in God, but when the emotional hurricanes are at fever pitch hope comes like a cooling zephyr to the homestead of Idlewild, a speck of a village in rural Jamaica. When "Banana Stains Fade "is an exquisite read that will resonate long after the book is gently set down on the nightstand.
- Lana M. Ho-Shing, author of The Alabaster Box.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of four generations of Jamaican women is beautifully written. The story places the reader into the lives of a family filled with regrets and secrets that impact each generation. The choices each woman makes as life takes its twists and turns was unpredictable and captivating. The other character in the book is the island of Jamaica itself💕. Through her expert storytelling ability, this author draws you in immediately, and I found it hard to put the book down and read it in three days!

[Miss B.Gibbons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book of Jamaica family story.
I enjoyed every thing about this story of the family life in the country and then in the capital city then overseas.
This story following the family shows the real Jamaica, what the peolpe and the challenges they go through.
I cried and laugh and would highly recommend this book to every one.
Thank you Frances-Marie.
I also recommend The Spirit Of Clovelly Park.

[Lucille Guarino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Coke weaves a heartrending tale of resilience for four strong, related Jamaican women living generations apart. The men were not as admirable, except for Bradley and Donovan, who were wonderful characters who enriched the story with decency and kindness. From prejudices and curses to hope and forgiveness, When Banana Stains Fade will easily transport you to this island country in the Caribbean Sea, invigorating faith in the love of family.

[Marjorie Duncombe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each generation through out the years, the length and breath of this island can relate in some ways to this story. on a personal note I can relate to one of the character's experiences. A deep compelling book.

[Kedist · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tells a story so common for our island in the Sun but at the same time is so unique. From traumatic histories riddled with pain, to the streets of NewYork, and back home to Jamaica. The bond of family is strong and powerful as these ladies lives weave together to form a beautiful tapestry that shows love conquers all.

[Cam Torrens · Rating 5 out of 5]

An epic inter-generational saga guaranteed to tear your heart before reminding you of the power of faith, resilience, and family!

"When Banana Stains Fade" canvasses the tumultuous journey of five resilient generations of Jamaican women battling the weight of a perceived family curse. Each woman grapples with adversity while struggling to improve their lot in life. All confront the age-old question: are their destinies predetermined, or can they carve their own path through tenacity and determination? Weaving themes of trust, grit, and maternal bonds, Frances-Marie Coke's powerful voice delivers a poignant narrative--a tale revealing the potential of the human spirit in desperate circumstances.

Couldn’t put this one down!

[what.rincy.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book starts with the return of the very loved daughter Zarah, who ran away to the US abandoning her family. Her parents though separated, still stand together as one for her. But she doesn't know if she will be forgiven after what she has done. Esther and Bradley alongwith grandmother Naomi are nothing but happy to have her back. Not knowing what she went through and why or how she decided to come back, they decide to give her time to open up.
Naomi still believes in the curse of the banana stains, which has supposedly gripped all the women in her family tree. The hardships and sufferings they all had to endure.
We go back to four generations of women who did nothing but everything in their power to have a better life, to be strong and to be happy. It was amazing to see how the family came to be, where they were and where they are now.
We see extraordinary women like Agatha, Pearlie, Naomi, Esther and their life journey. Naomi's last wish for her ashes to be spread out in the waters of Idlewood which she once called home was such a beautiful sentiment. And them finally emerging out of the supposed banana stain curse. I could just cry
This is such a wonderfully written family saga. I enjoyed the Jamaican dialect or let's say how Jamaicans speak English. The christian aspect, the faith the women lived by, it was so good to read. The way the places are described, I could tell that it is a stunning country. And it's on my travel list now
I love books like this. With so much depth and core values. I loved reading this so much. Definitely on my list of favs. Author Francis-Marie is such a wonderful writer and I hope to read more from her and hope that you she is the first author I get to meet 😍

[Peggy Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Banana Stains Fade is a beautiful tale of multiple generations of a Jamaican family in which the women are all affected by what came before them and are seemingly unable to break the cycle of becoming pregnant at a very young age. I love when a novel transports me to a place I’ve never been before, and pulls me into the characters’ lives. Frances-Marie Coke did just that. The women in this story are complex characters, all fragile yet strong, poor in life yet rich in spirit, limited in their education but knowledgeable about so many things. I read an advance copy provided by the author, but this review is freely given because of how much I enjoyed it.