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Montaro Caine
An inspirational first novel that blends elements of mystery, science fiction, and metaphysics by the beloved, legendary, and bestselling actor Sidney Poitier.
When a coin is found in a baby's hand, the doctor who finds it sends it up to a lab at MIT, where Montaro Caine, a student, does a work-up on it and discovers it to be made of materials not known on Earth. Caine never learns the owner's identity, but two decades later, as Caine, now CEO of Fitzer Corp in New York City, is facing the possibility of a hostile corporate takeover and experiencing family troubles, a man and woman appear in his office bearing the coin. The find sets off a battle of intrigue and suspense, as scientists, collectors, and financiers all vie to get their hands on it. But the coin, and a second coin that appears, is of more value than mere monetary worth. In this ambitious, page-turning novel, the beloved actor Sidney Poitier takes us from New York to Europe to the Caribbean in an exploration of race, faith, and, beyond all else, the meaning of our lives on earth.
When a coin is found in a baby's hand, the doctor who finds it sends it up to a lab at MIT, where Montaro Caine, a student, does a work-up on it and discovers it to be made of materials not known on Earth. Caine never learns the owner's identity, but two decades later, as Caine, now CEO of Fitzer Corp in New York City, is facing the possibility of a hostile corporate takeover and experiencing family troubles, a man and woman appear in his office bearing the coin. The find sets off a battle of intrigue and suspense, as scientists, collectors, and financiers all vie to get their hands on it. But the coin, and a second coin that appears, is of more value than mere monetary worth. In this ambitious, page-turning novel, the beloved actor Sidney Poitier takes us from New York to Europe to the Caribbean in an exploration of race, faith, and, beyond all else, the meaning of our lives on earth.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
83 people are currently reading
1354 people want to read
About the author
Sidney Poitier
27 books127 followersIn 1964, Poitier became the first Bahamian to win an Academy Award for Best Actor, for his role in Lilies of the Field. Poitier was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
August 9, 2013
It's probably not fair to the author, but when I picked up this novel by Sidney Poitier, I was really hoping the protagonist would be somewhat like Mr. Poitier. Instead he was a white self-made millionaire from Nebraska (or Kansas? Maybe he was from Kansas, and one of the other white self-made millionaires was from Nebraska?) There were several self-made millionaires scattered about.
The main characters were a bit too John Galt-ish; you know the type, hard-core businessman who can play hardball with hard characters but has a hard line of hard ethics that he will not stray from under any hardship.
The story is rife with characters with names like "Cordiss Krinkle" (yes!!) and "Kritzman Fritzbrauner". Yet it is not a comedy.
I think something meaningful was supposed to happen in the end. It involved long paragraphs about mysticism and science and how science is really mystical, or maybe the other way around.
If you loved The Celestine Prophecy, you might like this. If you want to experience some of Sidney Poitier's panache and elegance, skip this novel and watch one of his movies.
The main characters were a bit too John Galt-ish; you know the type, hard-core businessman who can play hardball with hard characters but has a hard line of hard ethics that he will not stray from under any hardship.
The story is rife with characters with names like "Cordiss Krinkle" (yes!!) and "Kritzman Fritzbrauner". Yet it is not a comedy.
I think something meaningful was supposed to happen in the end. It involved long paragraphs about mysticism and science and how science is really mystical, or maybe the other way around.
If you loved The Celestine Prophecy, you might like this. If you want to experience some of Sidney Poitier's panache and elegance, skip this novel and watch one of his movies.
May 8, 2013
Disclosure time: I recognized Sidney Poitier’s name when I started reading this book, but I had no idea who he was. Didn’t even know he was an actor. Terrible, I know, considering his many accomplishments. I guess I could use the excuse that he was before my time, which he most certainly was, but I think it’s good to know a little bit about the culture of many decades, not just my own. (This is especially important because…well, have you seen some of the swill this generation has produced?) I’m glad that reading Poitier’s (first) novel gave me the opportunity to learn a bit more about him. Also…I know age doesn’t terribly matter, but I find it vastly admirable that he decided to pursue this new avenue in such a late season of his life. I hope that I don’t spend my later years resigned to “doing what I’ve always done” and am brave enough to venture out and do anything that I haven’t gotten around to yet.
Anyway. About the book. Montaro Caine is about the title character and his search to discover the origins of two mysterious coins. The elemental composition of these coins is unlike anything he has ever seen before, and he quickly becomes absorbed in a quest to uncover as much information about them as he can. (Fortunately for him, he is the CEO of a company whose resources are at his disposal.) As murmurings about these strange coins reach other scientists, collectors, and thieves, everyone wants to get their hands on them. What follows is a story of intrigue, deception, and suspense with a dash of family struggles and personal growth.
There are many great things about this book. For starters, Montaro Caine is a great protagonist because he isn’t perfect, but he is noble. I enjoyed watching him figure out his place in the world. The writing is clean and efficient. Also, Poitier is a good storyteller: there are so many characters in this novel, and their stories intertwine so often, that it has the potential to become dizzying and confusing. But it doesn’t; Poitier manages his web masterfully. Transitions between scenes and locations are smooth, and it’s fairly easy to keep everyone straight. This is no easy feat. Also, although the book is very slow to start, once the action picks up it flows right along and sweeps the reader up in its swift current. I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next.
Okay, negative time. I didn’t do this on purpose, I swear, but my complaint with this book is exactly the same as my primary complaint with the last book I reviewed (Something Wicked This Way Comes): it gets too teachy-and-preachy for me. I love it when good prevails, but I hate having to be told, “Good is winning over evil. Do you see? These characters are coming out ahead because they are good. And they have love. And integrity of intention.” I’d rather an implicit moral than an explicit one.
That being said, I still think this book is worth a read. It’s good. I just wanted a stronger ending.
Anyway. About the book. Montaro Caine is about the title character and his search to discover the origins of two mysterious coins. The elemental composition of these coins is unlike anything he has ever seen before, and he quickly becomes absorbed in a quest to uncover as much information about them as he can. (Fortunately for him, he is the CEO of a company whose resources are at his disposal.) As murmurings about these strange coins reach other scientists, collectors, and thieves, everyone wants to get their hands on them. What follows is a story of intrigue, deception, and suspense with a dash of family struggles and personal growth.
There are many great things about this book. For starters, Montaro Caine is a great protagonist because he isn’t perfect, but he is noble. I enjoyed watching him figure out his place in the world. The writing is clean and efficient. Also, Poitier is a good storyteller: there are so many characters in this novel, and their stories intertwine so often, that it has the potential to become dizzying and confusing. But it doesn’t; Poitier manages his web masterfully. Transitions between scenes and locations are smooth, and it’s fairly easy to keep everyone straight. This is no easy feat. Also, although the book is very slow to start, once the action picks up it flows right along and sweeps the reader up in its swift current. I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next.
Okay, negative time. I didn’t do this on purpose, I swear, but my complaint with this book is exactly the same as my primary complaint with the last book I reviewed (Something Wicked This Way Comes): it gets too teachy-and-preachy for me. I love it when good prevails, but I hate having to be told, “Good is winning over evil. Do you see? These characters are coming out ahead because they are good. And they have love. And integrity of intention.” I’d rather an implicit moral than an explicit one.
That being said, I still think this book is worth a read. It’s good. I just wanted a stronger ending.
March 26, 2013
Montaro Caine from Net Galley/Random House is due out May 7, 2013.
Description from Amazon: A baby is born with a coin in her hand. An orphan crafts a mysterious wooden object. The CEO of a large corporation finds himself under extraordinary pressure at work and at home. And on a remote hilltop on a Caribbean island, a medicine man seems to understand the meaning of all of these events and to hold the key to the future.
Sidney Poitier, the respected actor and director now in his eighties, has turned his hand to writing fiction, and because Poitier is an actor whose works I've always admired and appreciated, I had to try this book. I liked it, and some of the philosophy behind the work seems in keeping with my image of Poitier--intelligence, integrity, wide-ranging interests, and a strong sense of belief in oneself and personal responsibility.
The book is, unsurprisingly, well-written and is an intriguing mix of philosophy and metaphysical science fiction with a decidedly optimistic faith in both science and humanity. I'm not quite sure of how to describe it, but it held my interest. I'm now determined to read his autobiographical works.
Fiction/Science Fiction. May, 2013. Print Version 320 pages.
Description from Amazon: A baby is born with a coin in her hand. An orphan crafts a mysterious wooden object. The CEO of a large corporation finds himself under extraordinary pressure at work and at home. And on a remote hilltop on a Caribbean island, a medicine man seems to understand the meaning of all of these events and to hold the key to the future.
Sidney Poitier, the respected actor and director now in his eighties, has turned his hand to writing fiction, and because Poitier is an actor whose works I've always admired and appreciated, I had to try this book. I liked it, and some of the philosophy behind the work seems in keeping with my image of Poitier--intelligence, integrity, wide-ranging interests, and a strong sense of belief in oneself and personal responsibility.
The book is, unsurprisingly, well-written and is an intriguing mix of philosophy and metaphysical science fiction with a decidedly optimistic faith in both science and humanity. I'm not quite sure of how to describe it, but it held my interest. I'm now determined to read his autobiographical works.
Fiction/Science Fiction. May, 2013. Print Version 320 pages.
June 8, 2013
Sidney Poitier can do no wrong. Here in his first novel, he gives the reader an intriguing tale of sci-fi literary fiction. Questions of who we are and what our place is—not just in the world but in the universe—are explored in Montaro Caine.
Montaro is a successful businessman drawn into the mystery of two coins found in the hands of newborn babies. The coins are unlike anything else on earth and have properties that are as miraculous as they are inexplicable. The babies who held them (now adults), business rivals, lawyers, doctors, collectors, con men, and even a miracle healer are all connected to these coins and their fate.
Poitier writes elegantly, weaving the lives of his disparate characters together using the science and perhaps even magic of the coins. And there is a visual style to the words that makes it easy to see how well this book would transition to film—the result, no doubt, of Poitier's long and distinguished career as an actor. And there are questions left at the book's end, as there would be in real like, leaving the reader satisfied in some ways and yet with something to think about too, just as the characters are.
Montaro is a successful businessman drawn into the mystery of two coins found in the hands of newborn babies. The coins are unlike anything else on earth and have properties that are as miraculous as they are inexplicable. The babies who held them (now adults), business rivals, lawyers, doctors, collectors, con men, and even a miracle healer are all connected to these coins and their fate.
Poitier writes elegantly, weaving the lives of his disparate characters together using the science and perhaps even magic of the coins. And there is a visual style to the words that makes it easy to see how well this book would transition to film—the result, no doubt, of Poitier's long and distinguished career as an actor. And there are questions left at the book's end, as there would be in real like, leaving the reader satisfied in some ways and yet with something to think about too, just as the characters are.
July 19, 2013
Spoiler alert. This review does contain spoilers so beware.
A novel of mystery that intertwines science-fiction with metaphysics penned by actor Sidney Poitier.
Montaro Caine, the CEO of Fitzer Corp. has been perplexed with the unique properties of a rare coin for decades. Twenty years prior the coin mysteriously appeared in the hands of a newborn baby and ultimately found its way to the young graduate student, Montaro Caine. The young Montaro quickly discovered the strange unearthly properties before having it removed by its unnamed benefactor.
Fast forward twenty years and follow Montaro through Europe and the Carribean in search of now two famous coins that could perhaps unlock the secrets of an alien race or destroy our ancestral one.
While the novel has colorful characters and a well written narrative I felt that this book belonged as a small chapter in a bigger story. I would have loved to jump into the future and see what it is Montaro and gang were able to do with the gifts of the coins. Or perhaps through the alien technology had at least been given a glimpse of their past and final destruction. I guess, too much mystery and not enough meat and potatoes.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for my un-biased and honest review
A novel of mystery that intertwines science-fiction with metaphysics penned by actor Sidney Poitier.
Montaro Caine, the CEO of Fitzer Corp. has been perplexed with the unique properties of a rare coin for decades. Twenty years prior the coin mysteriously appeared in the hands of a newborn baby and ultimately found its way to the young graduate student, Montaro Caine. The young Montaro quickly discovered the strange unearthly properties before having it removed by its unnamed benefactor.
Fast forward twenty years and follow Montaro through Europe and the Carribean in search of now two famous coins that could perhaps unlock the secrets of an alien race or destroy our ancestral one.
While the novel has colorful characters and a well written narrative I felt that this book belonged as a small chapter in a bigger story. I would have loved to jump into the future and see what it is Montaro and gang were able to do with the gifts of the coins. Or perhaps through the alien technology had at least been given a glimpse of their past and final destruction. I guess, too much mystery and not enough meat and potatoes.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for my un-biased and honest review
September 2, 2013
Academy Award-winning actor/director Sidney Poitier's debut novel is one filled with mystery, magic, and wonder. Delving into the depths of what it means to be a human being, including our inherent flaws, Poitier introduces the reader to a wide cast of characters - each with their own problems, each with their own agendas. The characters' lives intersect and interweave, all connected by mysterious coins. What is the meaning of the coins, and what role do they play in the lives of the characters and in the future of mankind on Earth? Poitier's novel at times moves at a good clip, at other times at a leisurely pace. Although never to the point of being so engrossing that I couldn't put it down, I did find the premise intriguing and Poitier's writing elegant and poetic and a pleasure to read. There wasn't as much of a climactic ending as I would have liked, but that in and of itself is a reflection of human nature, which is what this book was really all about.
February 23, 2014
A weird and sometimes enthralling but solidly entertaining experiment of a novel that attempts to meld the worlds of the mundanely practical with the cosmic in the same was as the Jodie Foster movie Contact. The book is in part dedicated to Carl Sagan, and owes a lot to his potentialist view of things, but sometimes doesn't really effectively fuse the two (or more) stories it tries to be. Some loose ends are left, and some left deliberately, but ultimately, if one keeps an open mind, one won't be sorry about reading Sidney Poitier's debut novel. It is fun and soap operatically epic, with a wide-ranging geography, multiple characters, and attempt to bridge widely disparate story elements.
September 18, 2014
The premise was interesting. The actual writing style was a nice easy ride. BUT, way to many characters that were underdeveloped , too many subplots and the ending was disapointing. Two unique coins are discovered , valuable in that they are not from this universe and they seem to be alive. Of course there are several parties interested in the coin.There lies the mystery, the coins, where did they come from , who owns them and ultimately what will others do to own them. So a generous 2 stars, a sequel might be interesting just to learn the path of the coin and the universe that it represents.
May 28, 2013
This book was a good try for a first novel. It started out well, a page turner, and I mentioned to my husband that I was hoping it would not disintegrate later on. Well, the disintegration started in the last quarter of the book, when Montaro Caine started giving long drawn out speeches on how to save mankind. Why do authors feel they need to resort to speeches to get their message across? Very boring and a little condescending. I ended up skimming the speech and was happy that the book was finished. I would say read the book, but beware....
May 8, 2013
My AP review of "Montaro Caine" - http://bigstory.ap.org/article/poitie...
"Poitier's novel may carry a heartfelt message about the potential for good within each one of us, but 'Montaro Caine' doesn't live up to its potential."
"Poitier's novel may carry a heartfelt message about the potential for good within each one of us, but 'Montaro Caine' doesn't live up to its potential."
August 28, 2013
Didn't know that Sidney Poitier was an author, but his first effort at fiction is good. The plot is a bit complicated, but it's different and holds your attention. I thought the ending could have been stronger.
January 24, 2014
This was an easy read and not what I expected. I had to push myself of complete this book.
September 28, 2019
A rather quirky science fiction novel centering on the discovery of two small stones that are connected to other beings who had to flee their dying planet. The book mostly kept my attention but I found the ending a disappointment.
April 7, 2017
I have, in the past, judged most books that I have read as pre- and post-
Ishmael: An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit. Now, I feel as though my expectations have risen and books will now be judged as pre- and post-
Montaro Caine: A Novel. Truly an inspiring and transcending novel, Sidney Poitier, whom I have loved since watching him in In The Heat Of The Night and To Sir With Love, has built for us a world that we live in now, but with new questions that we fear to ask ourselves.
Many lives intertwine to come to one great, climactic point, and Mr. Poitier does this seamlessly and intricately. The novel begins with young Montaro Caine, coming home to find that his father, Robet Caine, and his mother, sharing what seem to be a wonderous moment (to be fair, Montaro is 8-he jsut sees his parents are happy). The story goes on to follow Robert and his trip to see another doctor of behavioral science, Dr. Banks. While here, Robert is given a small token from a young child, about Montaro's age, who says to give it to his son. The kicker? Robert nor Dr. Banks had told this young child that he had a son, and the carving, which was very detailed, could not have possibly happened in the mere moments before they met. After his business is concluded, Robert Caine is anxious to get home to his family and to show off his findings. Unfortunately, he never makes it home, and Montaro Caine is given the tools and words from his grandfather to become a man.
Fast forward, and Montaro is at MIT and given the chance to look at some coin that has properties that he can not ever explain. When he and his superior ask for more time to come to more findings, they are denied, and the occasion becomes nothing more than background noise for the next twenty odd years for Montaro. Then, one day, out of blue, in the midst of personal turmoil for Montaro, two people enter and his whole world changes.
Like I said, there are many lives that are intimately linked to Montaro and each other, but to get into that would be like re-posting the entire novel here on this review. Never have I been held so captivated and enthralled, and never has a book left me with so many questions about life here on Earth, and my connectedness to those around me.
I will leave you with this:
"You are right, of course." Perch said. "You do not know all the answers you seek to know yet; you shouldn't expect to. But you are beginning to ask the right questions, and that is what is most important. Too often, questions take the shape of one's doubts, and those doubts strive to weaken the better selves inside of us. Only by the constant strengthening of our better selves can we win against those doubts. There are doorways everywhere, leading everywhere. Let your better selves guide you and, who knows, one day, somewhere in a place far away, in this world or another, we may meet again."
I look forward to having this book as a permanent fixture in my personal library.
Ishmael: An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit. Now, I feel as though my expectations have risen and books will now be judged as pre- and post-
Montaro Caine: A Novel. Truly an inspiring and transcending novel, Sidney Poitier, whom I have loved since watching him in In The Heat Of The Night and To Sir With Love, has built for us a world that we live in now, but with new questions that we fear to ask ourselves. Many lives intertwine to come to one great, climactic point, and Mr. Poitier does this seamlessly and intricately. The novel begins with young Montaro Caine, coming home to find that his father, Robet Caine, and his mother, sharing what seem to be a wonderous moment (to be fair, Montaro is 8-he jsut sees his parents are happy). The story goes on to follow Robert and his trip to see another doctor of behavioral science, Dr. Banks. While here, Robert is given a small token from a young child, about Montaro's age, who says to give it to his son. The kicker? Robert nor Dr. Banks had told this young child that he had a son, and the carving, which was very detailed, could not have possibly happened in the mere moments before they met. After his business is concluded, Robert Caine is anxious to get home to his family and to show off his findings. Unfortunately, he never makes it home, and Montaro Caine is given the tools and words from his grandfather to become a man.
Fast forward, and Montaro is at MIT and given the chance to look at some coin that has properties that he can not ever explain. When he and his superior ask for more time to come to more findings, they are denied, and the occasion becomes nothing more than background noise for the next twenty odd years for Montaro. Then, one day, out of blue, in the midst of personal turmoil for Montaro, two people enter and his whole world changes.
Like I said, there are many lives that are intimately linked to Montaro and each other, but to get into that would be like re-posting the entire novel here on this review. Never have I been held so captivated and enthralled, and never has a book left me with so many questions about life here on Earth, and my connectedness to those around me.
I will leave you with this:
"You are right, of course." Perch said. "You do not know all the answers you seek to know yet; you shouldn't expect to. But you are beginning to ask the right questions, and that is what is most important. Too often, questions take the shape of one's doubts, and those doubts strive to weaken the better selves inside of us. Only by the constant strengthening of our better selves can we win against those doubts. There are doorways everywhere, leading everywhere. Let your better selves guide you and, who knows, one day, somewhere in a place far away, in this world or another, we may meet again."
I look forward to having this book as a permanent fixture in my personal library.
December 22, 2013
Like several other reviewers, I first picked up this eARC from NetGalley because of the author's name. Sidney Poitier? Legend! That he can write as well as bring the written word to life through his emotions, was an absolute bonus for me.
Stoked much?
Montaro Caine is an interesting novel and I enjoyed reading it. The premise was interesting and the plot well executed. Two babies, born mere months apart, clutching golden coins in their hands - a secret known to very few, but significant to all. Combine this with a cattle of corporate intrigue and one of medical miracles and you have some pretty interesting threads to draw together.
Draw them together, Mr Poitier does and the novel works as an interesting piece of fiction.
Interesting, that word again!
I really, really want to give this novel more stars ... But ... There are just too many little things that stop me.
Firstly, the writing ... It is beautiful, but it is a little too voluble ... The tale could have been told in fewer paragraphs.
Secondly, the characters. There are just too many. While they were well drawn, and for the most part, memorable, their sheer volume was taxing.
Thirdly, The sub-plot with Caine's daughter Prissy was unnecessary and his choice to dash off solving a coin mystery when there was a massive issue on at home, baffled me. It didn't fit with Caine's character. I'm not sure what value it added to the tale, other than to make me think Caine was a bad father and husband for abandoning them at a time of family crisis.
The coins in baby hands: no ultrasound facilities in the US in the 1980s? If the metal in the coins showed a reading on a mass spectrometer, it is going to cause a blip on an ultrasound machine at one of the monitoring scan times. Just sayin.
That's about it.
I liked it, but I wish it had been tighter.
Still my favourite actor, just not YET my favourite novelist.
Stoked much?
Montaro Caine is an interesting novel and I enjoyed reading it. The premise was interesting and the plot well executed. Two babies, born mere months apart, clutching golden coins in their hands - a secret known to very few, but significant to all. Combine this with a cattle of corporate intrigue and one of medical miracles and you have some pretty interesting threads to draw together.
Draw them together, Mr Poitier does and the novel works as an interesting piece of fiction.
Interesting, that word again!
I really, really want to give this novel more stars ... But ... There are just too many little things that stop me.
Firstly, the writing ... It is beautiful, but it is a little too voluble ... The tale could have been told in fewer paragraphs.
Secondly, the characters. There are just too many. While they were well drawn, and for the most part, memorable, their sheer volume was taxing.
Thirdly, The sub-plot with Caine's daughter Prissy was unnecessary and his choice to dash off solving a coin mystery when there was a massive issue on at home, baffled me. It didn't fit with Caine's character. I'm not sure what value it added to the tale, other than to make me think Caine was a bad father and husband for abandoning them at a time of family crisis.
The coins in baby hands: no ultrasound facilities in the US in the 1980s? If the metal in the coins showed a reading on a mass spectrometer, it is going to cause a blip on an ultrasound machine at one of the monitoring scan times. Just sayin.
That's about it.
I liked it, but I wish it had been tighter.
Still my favourite actor, just not YET my favourite novelist.
July 30, 2013
I read this entire book in one sitting; literally could not put it down. I was pleasantly by surprised Sidney Poitier's writing. Everything about this book drew me in: the author himself; the characters, and the story. I didn't know what to expect as I primarily put this book on my reading list because I love Sidney Poitier in To Sir, With Love.
To my surprise it was completely up my alley; an intriguing mix of suspense, betrayal, mysticism, metaphysics, travel across galaxies and time... somewhat reminiscent of Lost (well, some parts of it anyway). I really enjoyed nearly everything about it. My only complaints are that (1) Montaro's wife and daughter were not a part of Montaro's discovering his life's purpose and probably the most important information to be imparted to humankind, ever. (2) There was a pretty binary distinction between good and bad in the book. It didn't detract too much from the story for me, but I definitely remembered characters by whether they were the Good Guys or the Bad Guys. (3) The ending was a tad bit preachy, but I was happy with Montaro's resolution. Not so sure about everyone else's.
I did really want the good guys to win. In a way, though, you knew this was inevitable. The story was clearly designed to lead to a foregone conclusion, that good prevails over evil. This was couched in a lot of "but maybe not, it's up to humanity" moments, but the moral of the story kind of punches you in the head over and over.
Still, I really enjoyed the story and hope to read more fiction by Sidney Poitier. However, I get the feeling that this was the big (fictional) story within him that was waiting to be told, and am not sure what tack he would take if he did write another novel.
By the way, I had no idea he was a close friend of Carl Sagan's until the acknowledgements at the end of the book. Very cool.
To my surprise it was completely up my alley; an intriguing mix of suspense, betrayal, mysticism, metaphysics, travel across galaxies and time... somewhat reminiscent of Lost (well, some parts of it anyway). I really enjoyed nearly everything about it. My only complaints are that (1) Montaro's wife and daughter were not a part of Montaro's discovering his life's purpose and probably the most important information to be imparted to humankind, ever. (2) There was a pretty binary distinction between good and bad in the book. It didn't detract too much from the story for me, but I definitely remembered characters by whether they were the Good Guys or the Bad Guys. (3) The ending was a tad bit preachy, but I was happy with Montaro's resolution. Not so sure about everyone else's.
I did really want the good guys to win. In a way, though, you knew this was inevitable. The story was clearly designed to lead to a foregone conclusion, that good prevails over evil. This was couched in a lot of "but maybe not, it's up to humanity" moments, but the moral of the story kind of punches you in the head over and over.
Still, I really enjoyed the story and hope to read more fiction by Sidney Poitier. However, I get the feeling that this was the big (fictional) story within him that was waiting to be told, and am not sure what tack he would take if he did write another novel.
By the way, I had no idea he was a close friend of Carl Sagan's until the acknowledgements at the end of the book. Very cool.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2013
I liked this book, even if at the beginnig I was a little bit skeptical because I mean Sidney Poitier is one of the best actor ever, can he even write? At last it seemed so, the story is well written, the plot interesting and full of surprises and the charachters to remember so what can I ask more than that? A little less pages, that is all, but maybe that is always my problem with books, sometimes I think some of them have too many pages on them even if it was not so necessary.
Mi é piaciuto questo libro, anche se all'inizio ero un po' scettica, voglio dire Sidnwy Poitier é uno dei migliori attori di sempre, puó veramente essere anche un bravo scrittore, o almeno decente? Sembra di sí, la storia é ben scritta e coinvolgente, la trama regge ed é anche piena di sorprese e i personaggi restano in mente, quindi cosa chiedere di piú? Qualche pagina in meno, tutto qua, ma probabilmente questo é solo un mio problema, vorrei ridurre la maggior parte delle pagine dei libri.
THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND RANDOM HOUSE PUBLISHING GROUP FOR THE PREVIEW!
Mi é piaciuto questo libro, anche se all'inizio ero un po' scettica, voglio dire Sidnwy Poitier é uno dei migliori attori di sempre, puó veramente essere anche un bravo scrittore, o almeno decente? Sembra di sí, la storia é ben scritta e coinvolgente, la trama regge ed é anche piena di sorprese e i personaggi restano in mente, quindi cosa chiedere di piú? Qualche pagina in meno, tutto qua, ma probabilmente questo é solo un mio problema, vorrei ridurre la maggior parte delle pagine dei libri.
THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND RANDOM HOUSE PUBLISHING GROUP FOR THE PREVIEW!
March 2, 2014
21st Pick, February 2014 ~ Chosen by Nadine.
Average rating was a 2.5/5 stars. Three members gave it 3.5 stars, the rest were 1-2.5 stars. It started with intrigue but ended very unsatisfying. Mary Ann was the only one who enjoyed the read overall. Everyone else felt very let down by the end. It could be interpreted as symbolism, of the divinity of mankind and humanity, or it could be a sci-fi/metaphysical mystery, but the story felt confused about which it wanted to be. It also felt like the editor was out to lunch and afraid to edit an elderly Hollywood legend...
Meeting Highlights ~ We met at Carrabba's on 18th, but were very disappointed. Will not likely go back. Plus, no round tables! In attendance: Nadine, Marilyn, Kimber, Mary Ann, Pam, Robin, Vicki and Adriane. The meeting lasted about 2.5 hours.
Vicki gave 3 books and we voted on the July pick: ORPHAN TRAIN by Christina Baker Kline!
Next meeting will be Sunday, April 13th
Average rating was a 2.5/5 stars. Three members gave it 3.5 stars, the rest were 1-2.5 stars. It started with intrigue but ended very unsatisfying. Mary Ann was the only one who enjoyed the read overall. Everyone else felt very let down by the end. It could be interpreted as symbolism, of the divinity of mankind and humanity, or it could be a sci-fi/metaphysical mystery, but the story felt confused about which it wanted to be. It also felt like the editor was out to lunch and afraid to edit an elderly Hollywood legend...
Meeting Highlights ~ We met at Carrabba's on 18th, but were very disappointed. Will not likely go back. Plus, no round tables! In attendance: Nadine, Marilyn, Kimber, Mary Ann, Pam, Robin, Vicki and Adriane. The meeting lasted about 2.5 hours.
Vicki gave 3 books and we voted on the July pick: ORPHAN TRAIN by Christina Baker Kline!
Next meeting will be Sunday, April 13th
August 8, 2013
The unusual circumstances which occurred during the birth of two children some 26 years earlier, the curing of two people each with a terminal decease, a carving made by a young man representing something far beyond human imagination are all seemingly unrelated mysteries which could lead to momentous events and opportunities for the future of mankind.
"Montaro Caine", written by one of the most distinguished actors of our times, is not just a mystery or science fiction novel, but a tale which is thought provoking and poses questions of philosophy, science and metaphysics.
Sidney Poitier’s debut novel is very well written and full of life with some very well developed characters. Also a very pleasant page turner and another one of those books I found very hard to put down. I would certainly recommend it and wonder what we can expect from his pen in the future.
"Montaro Caine", written by one of the most distinguished actors of our times, is not just a mystery or science fiction novel, but a tale which is thought provoking and poses questions of philosophy, science and metaphysics.
Sidney Poitier’s debut novel is very well written and full of life with some very well developed characters. Also a very pleasant page turner and another one of those books I found very hard to put down. I would certainly recommend it and wonder what we can expect from his pen in the future.
May 15, 2013
I didn't care what Montaro Caine was about; I was going to read it because Sidney Poitier wrote it. This is a mystery/thriller meets sci-fi with aliens. Anyway, let me be clear that while this book did have a focus on the possibility of other life forms, there were no actual aliens in this book. It's the story of two coins that came into the world in the palm of newborn babies. And, they have other worldly qualities and their discovery opens up a whole host of ethical/scientific/monetary questions. I liked Poitier's writing and it definitely kept me turning the pages. Would I recommend this to anyone, no, but I would recommend it to people who like thrillers with a touch of the otherworldly.
thisismybookblog.blogspot.com
thisismybookblog.blogspot.com
June 5, 2013
Interesting characters and well-written narrative but what genre is this book? Terminal cancers cures by a Bahamian hermit... coins composed of metals with unusual properties found in newborns hands... savants with messages for people unknown to them... corporate intrigue... and sci-fi bits. Really... the premise would make a great thriller but no action or thrills... maybe it is a metaphysical mystery? Definitely contains much to ponder regarding humanity and the universe we live in... and ultimately is a book of hope.
Looking forward to more fiction from Mr. Poitier.
(Interesting to learn that the author and Carl Sagan were friends. Oh, just to have sat in on a few of their conversations...)
Looking forward to more fiction from Mr. Poitier.
(Interesting to learn that the author and Carl Sagan were friends. Oh, just to have sat in on a few of their conversations...)
June 18, 2013
Sidney Poitier's "Montaro Caine" is a bit of several things. Dan Brown, Paulo Coelho, and touch of Carl Sagan are all in play.
The book started out quite well. I was very intrigued with the plot as well as the ancillary stories. The protagonist, Montaro Caine was a character I could appreciate. There was much anticipation and intrigue in the first half of the book.
Around the middle though I feel it lost its way. The "coincidences" to move the storyline along became frequent and in the end, the philosophical morale of the story was a lost on me.
The beginning was so promising that I imagine it had been brewing in the author's mind for quite some time but the end felt rushed and not nearly as rich as it could have been. Publishing deadlines looming perhaps.
The book started out quite well. I was very intrigued with the plot as well as the ancillary stories. The protagonist, Montaro Caine was a character I could appreciate. There was much anticipation and intrigue in the first half of the book.
Around the middle though I feel it lost its way. The "coincidences" to move the storyline along became frequent and in the end, the philosophical morale of the story was a lost on me.
The beginning was so promising that I imagine it had been brewing in the author's mind for quite some time but the end felt rushed and not nearly as rich as it could have been. Publishing deadlines looming perhaps.
July 23, 2013
Oh, God bless Sidney Poitier! His own personal life story is inspiring and humbling, and I imagine that if he is nearby, you can feel the presence of greatness. In print and video, he appears to be a wise and honest sage, always and still curious about the world around him rather than his own personal triumphs. He has imbued Montaro Caine, the main character of his first novel, with many of these gifts, but the challenges Caine faces include something more from the realm of sci-fi. There were a few problems with this book (which others have noted), such as the sheer number of side characters introduced, and the strangely half-developed side plot. Still, the basic idea had an interesting premise, and Poitier sprinkles bits of genius here and there like breadcrumbs. I gladly follow.
November 21, 2013
Montaro Caine: A Novel
“Your Ears can See the Truth”, examines the author of Montaro Caine as the reader is enthralled on a journey that questions the notion “Sometimes what we hear isn't always what we see.” The mysteries of the universe are examined through two rare supernatural coins composed of metal unknown on Earth in this international suspense Sci-Fi thriller read. CEO Montaro Caine sets out to claim the coins to save his company. The coins draw the attention of thieves and scientist who find it intriguing that these metal discs appeared in the hands of two newborn babies who reconnect in their adult life.
Kimberly M. Gay
Academic Reference and Instruction Librarian- Prairie View A&M University
“Your Ears can See the Truth”, examines the author of Montaro Caine as the reader is enthralled on a journey that questions the notion “Sometimes what we hear isn't always what we see.” The mysteries of the universe are examined through two rare supernatural coins composed of metal unknown on Earth in this international suspense Sci-Fi thriller read. CEO Montaro Caine sets out to claim the coins to save his company. The coins draw the attention of thieves and scientist who find it intriguing that these metal discs appeared in the hands of two newborn babies who reconnect in their adult life.
Kimberly M. Gay
Academic Reference and Instruction Librarian- Prairie View A&M University
May 23, 2014
Loved the dedication: "To my mother, Evelyn Poitier, whose knowledge of the universe was instictual. She could barely read or write, but she knew...
and
To Carl Sagan for introducing me to his many books about the cosmos, the Milky Way galaxy, and the universe at large.
I am looking forward to seeing them again, in places yet unknown."
The book is a mystical sci-fi mystery, that seemingly debates science or faith, which is (more) believable. It will definitely make you look at the universe differently!
The book is beautifully written, I was just hoping that one of the black/non-white characters would have a more prominent role.
Quote from the book: "A man has to stand up to hard times, no matter what"
and
To Carl Sagan for introducing me to his many books about the cosmos, the Milky Way galaxy, and the universe at large.
I am looking forward to seeing them again, in places yet unknown."
The book is a mystical sci-fi mystery, that seemingly debates science or faith, which is (more) believable. It will definitely make you look at the universe differently!
The book is beautifully written, I was just hoping that one of the black/non-white characters would have a more prominent role.
Quote from the book: "A man has to stand up to hard times, no matter what"
September 8, 2016
When I saw the name "Sidney Poitier" in the fiction section of the library, I couldn't believe my eyes. I knew that an actor writing fiction was nothing knew; Gene Hackman, James Franco, and many others have done his before. But Poitier's book was interesting mostly because of the title and cover. Sometimes, that's all it takes for me to read something.
As for the actual book, the writing was solid in many parts, and in just as many places, it seemed wordy or didn't sound right to me. And the story was very interesting. However, sometimes, the story seemed to go out of it's way to check an unnecessary nook or cranny. Furthermore, the story ended with some plot points a little unresolved.
The book was good, but it could have been better in my opinion.
As for the actual book, the writing was solid in many parts, and in just as many places, it seemed wordy or didn't sound right to me. And the story was very interesting. However, sometimes, the story seemed to go out of it's way to check an unnecessary nook or cranny. Furthermore, the story ended with some plot points a little unresolved.
The book was good, but it could have been better in my opinion.
June 18, 2013
I really enjoyed Sidney Poitier's memoir's and was curious to see how he is with his first work of fiction. Although I'm not a fan at all of science fiction, this book had very little science fiction backstory. Actually, I think it was a great story line, but two things kept me from giving this more than 3 stars. First of all, there were WAY too many characters. The story could have been told with about half the people. Secondly, the story could have been a lot shorter. It seemed to really drag on in places. It's still worth taking the time to read. I'm looking forward to his second work of fiction, if he writes one, to see what subject he chooses.
July 17, 2013
Mr Poitier's exceptional acting skills unfortunately do not translate into an exceptional novel. This book's imaginative story line of two babies being born miles apart with mysterious coins in their infant fists mixes great science with the always captivating idea of life elsewhere in the Universe. That the author was pals with the visionary Carl Sagan only furthered my sense of intrigue. Too bad that the entire thing got lost in an excess of disconnected details and subplot-lines. A person almost needed a notebook to keep track of the very large and distracting cast of characters. This is one of those times where a movie would do a far better job of telling the tale than the book!
October 13, 2013
Sidney Poitier's first novel(?)has a definitely has a message. A baby girl is born with a coin in her hand. Montaro Caine is asked to examine the coin shortly there after. What he discovers he knows to be earth changing but the coin is no longer accessible in any way shape or form. Years later the coin has resurfaced which sets off a race to possess it. What is discovered is that there was another coin found in the hand of another baby. The two coins have been kept secret from the children who have actually come together to form their own future family. This multi threaded story has to be read to understand.
October 2, 2013
This book has an interesting premise, but it's a bit of a mishmash. Is it fiction, sci-fi, philosophy, mythology? Sometimes a combination of all can work, but not in this case. While I am a fan of Mr. Poitier, his writing in this case suffers from his need to imbue it with his personal philosophy to the point where dialog becomes wholly unrealistic. Plus, the actions of the main character don't support the philosophy espoused. There are too many characters and tangential story lines, and you can feel the effort it takes to bring them all together in the end. I'd recommend skipping this and reading his autobiographies instead.
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