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Frances-Marie Coke
Frances-Marie Coke is a lifelong educator, born in Jamaica and living in Florida. She is a writing consultant with Keiser University. After a decade as a high school teacher, she worked in human resources at a large telecommunications firm in Jamaica and later entered academia as an administrator and lecturer at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica,
For decades creative writing has been a major part of her life. Her publications include two volumes of poetry: Intersections published by Peepal Tree Press, Leeds, UK, and The Balm of Dusk Lilies published by the Jamaica Observer Literary Publications. In January 2020, her memoir, The Spirit of Clovelly Park: Learning and teaching at Kingston College was published with iUniverse.
Frances-Marie uses her writing, among other things, to reinforce links to her island self. For fun, she teaches her American granddaughter nuances of the Jamaican experience, including the Jamaican language. A movie buff and a voracious reader, she is a member of reading groups and writers’ groups.
Her lifelong experience as an educator have shaped her insights into paradoxes that plague her country and people, inspiring this novel and other stories. Voices from her poetry that pervade INTERSECTIONS (Peepal Tree Press), resonate throughout her writing.
Reviewed by Doreen Chombu for Readers' Favorite
When Banana Stains Fade by Frances-Marie Coke tells the story of the women in a Jamaican family across generations. When Zarah returns home to Kingston, Jamaica, from the United States, she is full of regret over the past three years. She feels she has fallen into the trap of her family curse, which her mother and grandmother Naomi always warned her about. Every woman in her family had either fallen in love with the wrong man or made bad choices that led to severe consequences. Fortunately, Zarah's mother Esther, and her loving father Bradley, who are separated, help her get back on her feet. The book takes readers on Zarah's journey toward healing and also tells the stories of the women who came before her.
When Banana Stains Fade explores family dynamics, generational patterns, and the struggles faced by Jamaican women. The story delves into themes of infidelity, family secrets, sexual abuse, and the lasting impact of choices on our lives and families. It also touches on Jamaican culture and history, including societal divisions based on skin complexion and speaking tone. Frances-Marie Coke's rhythmic narration makes the story engaging and easy to read. She has included interactive questions at the end that can be useful for book clubs. Each character is from a different era, and the author perfectly captures the different cultural norms and how these changed over the years. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author. Her work is emotionally engaging and a life-changing experience.
