It’s Book Review Monday! … on Tuesday … but it feels like Saturday. These days between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day always feel a bit like the Twilight Zone, just a bit off-center. Yesterday was a play day with two of the Grands so here is this month’s Book Review Monday! … on Tuesday.

I’d heard and read much about Allen Levi’s debut novel, the bestseller, Theo of Golden. The prevailing consensus was it’s a heartwarming, ‘must-read’ book. ‘One of the best books I’ve ever read!’ One of my Rowdy Readers texted the group saying she’d just heard about ‘this great book’ that was getting a lot of buzz. The text came as I was reading and hearing the same buzz. So, our group decided to read it for our December selection. Within the group it received mixed reviews. Here’s the story about the story. And my thoughts.

Theo, a mysterious elderly gentleman arrives in the small southern town of Golden. While becoming familiar with his new surroundings, Theo steps into the local coffee shop and is immediately mesmerized by the pencil-sketched portraits lining three walls. Ninety-two renderings of local men, women, and children by a local artist are so well drawn they could be sitting in the coffee house at that moment. Theo decides to buy each portrait, one at a time, and gift them to the subject of the picture, ones he calls the ‘the rightful owners.’ He doesn’t understand the desire or urge to do this, but believes it’s what he’s called to do. As he follows through on his plan, friendships and connections form and lives change.

I’m halfway through and will finish the book this evening. It’s an easy, lighter read even though it contains big themes of ‘the power of creative generosity, the importance of wonder, and the invisible threads of kindness that bind us to one another.’ (from the back cover of Theo of Golden).

I’m enjoying the book. I need something like this during the blessed chaos of the holiday season, a novel that entertains and makes me think only a little bit. I think that ease is why the novel received mixed reviews within my group. The novel is allegorical and for some it gave everything away; it didn’t allow or require the reader to figure things out on their own. The readers in my group like a challenge, something that causes them to dig a little deeper. But they all liked Theo!

For all I heard and read about the book, I’d not gotten the same depth of information about the author. Other than Levi being 70-years-old, a former lawyer, and from what I understand had self-published the book before it was picked up by a traditional publisher, his story was unknown. I decided to listen to one of his interviews and I think the book will now resonate more for me.

Levi lives in rural Georgia. He has the wonderful soft Southern drawl of a gentleman farmer, which he is, living and working his family farm. The story came from a real-life experience after visiting a coffee shop, Fountain City Coffee in Columbus, Georgia, where ninety-two pencil-sketched portraits line a wall. Levi wondered what it would be like to purchase all the portraits and give them to the subjects. He bought five of them, actual characters in the book, and had them close while writing the book.

Levi was a lawyer for ten years, and a rural judge for a handful, but mostly he’s been a songwriter and musician. One of the lessons he learned during his judgeship was seeing people as something more than a case number on the docket. He took the time to really look at the person before him, and made his judgements with the hand of mercy. Theo has this same gift of observation, of seeing into a person’s soul, and most importantly letting others see themselves as more than what they see in the mirror.

Maybe that’s why Theo from Golden is being heralded today. Maybe, like me, we all need a feel-good book that reminds us of what simple daily kindnesses and creative generosity can birth if we take the time to really look at each other. A reminder that we can do this, and to support each other as we do.

If you’ve read Theo from Golden, what did you think? If you’re interested in hearing Allen Levi’s interview, check out The Habit Podcast, (Allen Levi Wants You to be Brave).

I actually enjoy these in-between days. They’re transitioning days when I get the shiny new wall calendar and write in events already scheduled for the new year–thankfully there aren’t too many yet. The fridge gets emptied of any leftover breads, cookies, casseroles, and cleaned. My office gets put back in shape after my Grand bunked in there for a few nights. There’s a fresh start to the fresh year. Hubby and I begin the year attending mass and participating in a First Day Hike in one of the state parks. And after the first, I’ll be ready to tackle some deeper reading. My cousin Tom came through again with this gem.

How do you transition from one year to the next? I’m looking forward to our visits in the coming year. Happy New Year everyone. See you in 2026!