When Banana Stains Fade

A Jamaican Family Saga of Adversity and Redemption

Fiction - Literary
325 Pages
Reviewed on 03/27/2024
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

Author Biography

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.

    Book Review

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.

Delores Gauntlett

A page turner. Frances-Marie Coke's, When Banana Stains Fade, a multigenerational saga, through its lyrical and accessible writing style, pulled me in, took me though the echoes of time, through the twists and turns where each character lingered as in a wide-awake dream; and caught me turning the last page as if expecting more.

Christina Anderson

My faorite author is........ Each page makes me more inquisitive and curious about the outcomes and dilemmas that each character faced, It is so easy to connect with each character. As many people struggle with something in their live, there is a certain comfort found when people can share the highs and the lows of their lives without fear of judgement or shame. I believe Frances Coke has created a wonderful balance between sharing the significant lives of her characters and the reality of life when things don't always go in the direction that you want them to. This beautiful story is wonderfully written and engaging. Being a Jamaican born in America this book gave me a sense of home that unfortunately I was not able to experience growing up. Thank you for creating that feeling for me.

Roli Degazon-Johnson Ph.D

Reading through the riveting yet succint chapters of Frances Coke’s “When Banana Stains Fade” is as intriguing as travelling on a big old red “Confidence” bus that was the Jamaican “town-to-country” transport mainstay of former years: leaving the harsh urban landscape of a Duhaney Park, one journeys to the bewitching rural environment of Oracabessa, St Mary, exquisitely captured through the author’s deeply poetic narrative. Within this magical context, Frances Coke captures repeatedly pain and anguish yet ends the journey of this family saga with hope and redemption.



David G. Batts

A story which is as interesting as its style of telling is intriguing. Once I started reading "When Banana Stains Fall" I could not put it down until the end. Congratulations to my beautiful English Literature teacher. Fortis Forever'

Cherry Palma

I absolutely enjoyed the book. Every expat especially those who left in the 50's and 60's should read. Brings back so many memories. Beautifully and truthfully told from the personal struggles of these 4 generations of women, the racial "color/good hair" prejudices, and class barriers within our Jamaican society. 
Could not put it down once I got to part 2. 
That devil Damian - bad like yaws. But in the end appeared sorry but I still did not fully believe him.