Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

"And so I say to you, my friends and neighbors, followers of Christ and those not, if you would honor the memory of Gamez Theophilus Zilavez, then do good, bestow kindness, strive for beauty, seek and find the river that leads to life everlasting, and draw from the fountain that never runs dry.

Like Theo did." -Father Lundy, Theo of Golden

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi was our bookclub's February read. It is a deeply reflective, character-driven novel about Theo, a quiet widower who appears one spring in the small southern town of Golden, Georgia. With the exception of four people (and there were about 30 of us there) everyone rated this book four (4) and above. Even the two women who usually don't give high marks!

There is an air of mystery around Theo - who is he really and why is he in Golden which is not as random as he leads the people in town to believe. Theo quietly and deliberately becomes the driving force for a series of meaningful meetings with a variety of townspeople. He begins making these connections by purchasing portraits of townspeople drawn by Asher, a local artist, and displayed on the walls of the coffee shop, The Chalice.

After purchasing each portrait, Theo handwrites a letter inviting the subject to meet him one afternoon by the Fedder Fountain. When he presents the portrait, he explains what drew him to their face in the artwork, gently drawing out emotions and stories the recipient believed they had successfully hidden from everyone.

As Theo listens to the struggles and tales of neighbors, the homeless, and friends, he offered compassion rather than advice. Where he saw need, he privately stepped in and provided a bridge to fill the gap. The low-key way he went about lifting people's self-worth has a direct effect on elevating the way the community took care of each other when someone needed extra help.

The town of Golden is actually based on the town of Columbus, Georgia and "The Chalice" is based on a local coffee shop there called Fountain City Coffee where there are portraits of those townspeople done by local artist Gary Pound hanging on the walls. Even the inclusion of Oxbow River is based on the Chattahoochee Riverwalk located in Columbus.

Theo of Golden contains themes of grief, faith, redemption, and the profound importance of ordinary moments. It is a feel good story. This book reflects what a community means and the value it provides to the culture of the town. There is a thread that connects us all to one another, be it through friendships, employment, common interests or a genuine innate bond. If you want a read that feels like a hug and celebrates the goodness in people then you will enjoy curling up with Theo of Golden.

Author Authentic: Theo of Golden was originally self-published in 2023 after the author's friends encouraged him to do so. He is currently working on a sequel where Ellen will be the main character.

Companion Song: "Hold My Hand" by Hootie & The Blowfish