When Banana Stains Fade
A Jamaican Family Saga of Adversity and Redemption
by Frances-Marie Coke
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Pub Date 11 Apr 2024 | Archive Date 27 May 2024
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Description
“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 Drumblair: 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."
A Note From the Publisher
Advance Praise
"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. Frances-Marie Coke traces both a family's story and the modern history of her island Jamaica, her message ultimately uplifting: 'But her glorious little island prevails.'" -Rachel Manley, author and winner of 1997 Governor General's Award for Literature in Canada for Drumblair: Memories of a Jamaican Childhood
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9781685133962 |
| PRICE | US$5.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 325 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Suzi M, Reviewer
A beautifully written family saga. Set in Post-colonial Jamaica it follows four women through a family. Will the same mistakes be made from generation to generation. Can lessons be learned if they can’t talk about what happened to them?
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy to review.
Reviewer 1086825
“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 them 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 W, Reviewer
"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.
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