Review: Theo of Golden by Allen Levi
THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING PHENONEMON
A Katie Couric Book Club Pick • A Jen Hatmaker Book Club Pick
“[A] word-of-mouth smash hit.” —The New York Times
“A treasure.” —Hoda Kotb
One spring morning, a stranger named Theo arrives in the small Southern city of Golden. He doesn’t explain much about where he came from or why he’s there—but when he visits the local coffeehouse, where pencil portraits of the people of Golden hang on the walls, he begins purchasing them, one at a time, and giving each portrait to the person depicted. In exchange, he asks only for the person’s story. And so portrait by portrait, person by person, secrets are revealed, regrets are shared, and ordinary lives are profoundly altered.
A story of giving and receiving, of seeing and being seen, Theo of Golden is an unforgettable novel about the power of generosity, the importance of connection, and the quiet miracles that happen when we choose kindness and wonder.
Dear Allen Levi,
I first heard about your book when I read the article in the Wall Street Journal about it (not sure if link will work – I am a paid subscriber, hopefully it will be visible for all of you guys)
https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/books/theo-of-golden-allen-levi-e500d1c9?mod=Searchresults&pos=1&page=1.
It was a positive story about the smashing success of a first time, self-published author whose book was picked up by a big publisher. The blurb sounded interesting, but I was a little hesitant till couple of weeks ago a close family member (two of them actually) told me that they really enjoyed the book as it was something unusual. Our book tastes are usually close so I decided to try the book. I really liked the idea of the book and honestly – the blurb pretty much summarizes the story. There will be some revelations at the end of the story, but for the actual plot – this is really *it*. Theo, kind, mysterious and rich 86 year old man arrives in the City of Golden and after he discovers Cafe Chalice he sees portraits of the strangers on the wall of the cafe and he eventually decides to buy those portraits one by one and give it to the people who posed for the portraits. I think the painter who did all those portraits was taking pictures of all those folks while they were inside and then drew them. Of course finding all of them and arranging the meetings with them is not easy, but with some help Theo manages. This “project” occupies almost all of his time while he is in Golden and of course while doing so he is spreading goodness, finds friendships and helps a lot of people.
Again, this is pretty much it. We learn eventually why Theo came to Golden, but that literally happens in the last twenty five or thirty pages of 399 pages book on my kindle. The revelations at the very end are the only real spoilers in this book going beyond what blurb discusses, so of course I won’t discuss those either. I guessed the reason why Theo came to Golden, but not who he was or all the details. I think the whole point of the story is to teach us to be kind to each other and I find it admirable, really.
I just wish it was not So. Very. Preachy while doing so. I do not mind a book with heavy religious themes, I really do not. I do prefer made up religions like for example in Lois McMaster Bujold’s books which nevertheless invoke the themes of religions in our world, but I do not mind the books inspired by Christianity. But the Christian imagery in this book was beating me over the head way too often for me to get fully immersed in the book. Actually, let me correct myself a little bit – I am not even so much talking about Christian imagery here. I found a lot of the beauty that gives our main character thoughts of Heaven indeed beautiful and inspiring. I am talking about certain interpretations of Christianity where women can only be happy in the appropriate professions and God forbid a woman does not have a child by choice and if I am going to talk about other stuff that annoyed me a little bit, I will have to talk spoilers. So I won’t.
I also really liked the deep love the main character had for the arts. I appreciated the joy when he talked about it.
Then there is an actual writing. I always feel inadequate when I want to critique the writing, but I am going to say it anyway – it rambled and rambled a lot. In my opinion, this book could have been easily cut if not in half than in third and nothing would have changed.
Grade: C
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I hated this book, but I realize I’m in the minority. The misogyny was appalling, the characters were one-dimensional, and Theo himself just bugged the shit out of me. But many people whose opinions I respect loved it. I think we (especially in the US) are all starved for feel-good books that show people being good to each other. Although it’s easy to be generous when you’re a rich white guy, so what’s the big deal?
Agree with review and Susan ‘s comment.. we are so in need of “feel good” books but I have been so disappointed that the ones recommended to me by friends this summer seem to come from such a privileged perspective..
I am the only one of many friends who has not read this book. If it’s on the world’s must-read list, why do I run the other way? I’m pretty sure it will be a bookclub pick any month now. Sirius and @SusanS, thank you for saying all the things I wondered about.
Didn’t hate the book but found it trite, and the resolutions of issues came far too easily. The general world view, and especially the sense of what women want/need to be truly happy, represent popular fiction in the 1950s, not today. I appreciated a book about good people who are kind, but the villains were straw men, and I can’t remember anyone who developed into a believable three-dimensional character. Don’t regret reading it – and it is quite short – but it will most definitely not appear on my list of Best Books I read this year.
@SusanS: @Sue: @Darlynne: @Susan/DC: Thank you for the comments everyone. I think my opinion of this book is closest to Susan/DC’s. I did not hate the book, but found it trite. There were some things that stood out to me in a very unpleasant way, but overall I can cosign Susan/DC’s comment :)
Thanks for your review. I will stay away from this book thanks to your insights.