Theo of Golden

The premise of this book is so inviting. What if someone purchased the pencil portraits displayed in a local coffee shop and bestowed them to the subject of the artwork? So many possibilities emerge from that one premise. In the hands of Allen Levi, the plot takes off in imaginative, but real ways as he lays bare the inner lives of a number of people in a small Georgia town. We do not find out until closer to the end of the book why he is there, what has driven his passion and how the community benefits from his presence. I heard about this book long before it exploded in the media. I am so happy that this book gained popularity through the wide universe of readers rather than through a marketing campaign. It supports my belief that show more readers are the best judge of “good writing”. Do we need literary critics to tells us what is good when we can discover on our own what works for us? This one worked for me and for so many other readers. Just when Levi takes us to the edge of schmalzy, he pulls back and offers meaningful dialogue about life and art. The level of description from decor, to food, to setting is rich and worth every word. I particularly enjoyed his descriptions of the characters' faces and their body language when they were confronted with their own portrait. I look forward to his next work. show less

I hate to admit it, but I was drawn to this book because of all the hoopla over it. And, for the most part, I think that hoopla is well deserved. The writing is flat out beautiful. The plot is interesting and creative. The characters are wonderful, especially the main character, Theo. It’s just that ending. I could have lived with a lot less religion. But that’s me, I guess. My wife, who is no more religious than I am, thinks I’m being too critical of the ending, so, like I said, I guess that criticism is on me, not the book. It is well worth the time to read it.

No one was quite understood why this gentle and soft spoken man came to their little town, but wherever he went, Theo was soon welcomed as a friend. His first stop was a coffee shop which happened to display 92 portraits on its walls, drawn by a local artist, and which were for sale. Theo took great interest in the portraits, deciding to buy them, and give them to the person each portrayed. That is how his visit to Golden began. With each portrait, he met someone new and learned about the person and the town. Theo asked many questions, but did not answer many that were asked of him. Still, his bond with the townsfolk strengthened with each passing day. Until . . . Well, you’ll have to discover that for yourself. This tender and show more masterfully written story is one of generosity, of hope, of friendship, of giving, and of purpose. It’s the story of a man who achieved much but who gave more. This novel is highly recommended. show less

It's taken me weeks to be able to write this review. I read this slowly, so I could savor the story. It reminded me so much Wendell Berry's work. It's a quiet story about one man's impact in a small community in Georgia. Theo is an elderly man from Portugal who shares little about his past as he gets to know the people in the town by giving them their own portraits painted by a local artist. It's a beautiful story about grief, grace, and being willing to open yourself up to connection. I loved every second of it and will absolutely read it again.

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

This was a very good book. The writing was truly beautiful. The character of Theo goes to Golden with a plan, but only one person in the town knows what it is and who Theo really is. While in a coffee shop Theo encounters walls filled with portraits drawn by a local artist. He is fascinated and hatches a plan to buy the portraits and give them to the subjects. We read about Theo meeting these people as well as thoughtfully learning about their lives. The town is curious at first, but later just accepts the old man and his strange ways. I truly did enjoy this book, but it read very slowly for me. I would read a few chapters every night. Learning more about Theo as the book progressed really kept me going.

The show more following are some of my takeaways from Theo of Golden
* Look beyond the face or outward appearance. What do the eyes tell us. There is always more to a person than we assume.
* Take time to listen. Let people tell their story without judgement. Ask meaningful questions, but do not force answers.
* Take time to study and observe.
* Kindness is never weakness. Be kind without expectation. Do good quietly show less

Theo of Golden is a fascinating book that moves between reality and allegory with Theo being our guide between the two. Theo's arrival in the small town of Golden comes with little fanfare until he begins to buy up the portraits in the local coffee shop and bestow them on the subjects. As he shares the drawings, he gets to know the people behind the pictures, and his life and theirs often change as a result. Theo is mostly a mystery to the townspeople and the reader although we get glimpses into his life as the novel progresses.

Allen Levi uses Theo to teach lessons about how to deal with the hardships of life, but does so in a gentle way. There is some talk of Heaven but the main theme is how human beings can learn to love and connect show more with each other.

The ending includes a several shocking twists that left me thinking about the book long after I finished reading it. show less

A lovely book about what kindness and love are. A man in his late '80's arrives in a fictional Georgia town, introducing himself only as "Theo", and becomes friends with people in his neighborhood. He sees portraits of local people for sale in a local coffee shop and starts buying them and giving them to the person portrayed. His acts of kindness are lovely -- even moved me to shed a tear or two which is rare for me.