For some readers, Theo of Golden will be about portraits on the walls of a coffeehouse in a fictional town in rural Georgia. I received the book as a testament to faith, giving, and the power of love. It is also about the unrequited love of a man, Theo, who let fame and striving drown a relationship that he never appreciated until it was too late. By the time Theo arrives in Golden, the woman he loved has passed, but her son, their child, is an accomplished local portrait artist.
Golden is all the things you would expect in a Hallmark-style town with a bookstore, coffee shop, art, music, gardens, birds, river, churches, walking trails, and fine dining. There is even a fountain at city-center. Everything is perfect, except the people. Theo is the protagonist, but I believe Tony is the more interesting character, a combat veteran, agnostic, skeptic, and bookstore owner who complains his shop is perpetually one week away from closing. His story and journey are inspiring. I’m glad my book club leader encouraged me to read Allen Levi’s book.