Theo of Golden

By 

Allen Levi

The story starts with an intriguing sentence “Theo was in Golden for only a year, from springtime to springtime…..” and draws you headfirst into the heartwarming tale  of an enigmatic 86-year-old stranger who appears mysteriously in the town of Golden, Georgia.

The stranger, known only by his first name, Theo, enters a popular coffee shop, The Chalice, and finds framed portraits drawn by a local artist on all the walls. The portraits are of everyday folk in town and are available for sale. Theo decides to buy these portraits and gift them to each of the featured individuals. With the help of a local person who finds the addresses of the people, Theo then sends sincere hand-written letters to each recipient and requests for a meeting by the fountain.

Although it appears to be a sweet thoughtful gesture, not surprisingly, it is seen with suspicion but the first bestowal goes well. And with it begins a small chain reaction which leads to many interesting conversations with a wide cast of characters at the receiving end of Theo’s generosity – Ellen, Simon, Tony, Basil, Lamisha, each with their own unique stories. As the days go by, vignettes of Theo’s early life as a young boy in the Douro Valley of Portugal are revealed in bits and pieces. The reason why Theo embarks on this generous streak and gets involved as a benefactor to the people of the town remains a mystery. 

The magic of the book lies in the unsuspecting way we get to witness Theo’s random act of kindness, how it is received by people of various ages and backgrounds and how this simple act and his genuine interest in their lives enriches everyone, including the reader. 

As Theo’s circle of friends kept growing, I didn’t want the book to end even though the mystery behind his appearance is revealed only at the very end. And when it did, I realized that the clues had been there all along if only I had read more deeply instead of getting carried away by the simplicity of the narration and the authenticity of the characters who all felt familiar and friendly.

This gem of a book that I read as an ebook made me believe in the kindness of strangers, in the serendipity of interactions that impact our lives, in the possibility of a silver lining that may be just around the corner from a major tragedy. 

It is a story about art, generosity, truly seeing people and making a difference by being fully present, of optimism, belief in goodness and knowing that life can still bring us glimmers of joy even under the shadow of grief and despite the undercurrent of sadness that runs through us all.

Quotes: 

“The roots can only grow in stony, difficult ground. The pruner’s shears cut deep. The grapes are crushed and kept in the dark for decades. For the sake of the sweetness” – about the makings of vintage port wine from the Douro Valley of Portugal.

“Theo was not particularly comfortable with small talk. His own active mind and colorful thoughts were so engaging that shallow babble felt at times like an intrusion, an interruption, a subtraction” – I feel the same!

For anything to be good, truly good, there must be love in it. There must be love for the gift itself, love for the subject being depicted or the story being told, and love for the audience. Whether the art is sculpture, farming, teaching, lawmaking, medicine, music or raising a child, if love is not in it – at the very heart of it – it might be skillful,marketable, or popular but I doubt it is truly good. Nothing is what it’s supposed to be if love is not at the core.

Any fisherman knows that this is the best time to be fishing. But artists know this is the enchanted hour, when the sunlight is almost magical. It’s hard to know sometimes. Fish or paint,right? Fish or paint? Well, I tell you, this time of year, I’m afraid I have no choice. I always make time for this.

My opinion: If you believe in the goodness of people, random acts of kindness and the fact that life holds surprises until the very end, read this book to feel that redemption is still a possibility for humanity.