Theo of Golden

 

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

Fiction

2023

Narrated by David Morse

Finished on 3/3/2026

Rating: 3/5 (Good)

Publisher's Blurb:

One spring morning, a stranger arrives in the small southern city of Golden. No one knows where he has come from…or why…

His name is Theo. And he asks a lot more questions than he answers.

Theo visits the local coffeehouse, where ninety-two pencil portraits hang on the walls, portraits of the people of Golden done by a local artist. He begins purchasing them, one at a time, and putting them back in the hands of their “rightful owners.” With each exchange, a story is told, a friendship born, and a life altered.

A story of giving and receiving, of seeing and being seen, Theo of Golden is a beautifully crafted novel about the power of creative generosity, the importance of wonder to a purposeful life, and the invisible threads of kindness that bind us to one another.

I was really excited about reading this debut novel after seeing so many glowing reviews, so I purchased a copy, something I rarely do unless I'm certain it's one I'm going to love. I read several chapters, but wasn't impressed. I decided to try the audiobook with hopes that it wouldn't be as slow as the print edition. I increased the listening speed, and eventually got interested in the story. I wish I could say that I loved Allen Levi's book, but it just wasn't for me. I liked the novel well enough to finish, but it's not one that I can recommend. Theo of Golden is an uplifting and inspirational story (with an underlying Christian message), which will appeal to fans of Mitch Albom and Nicholas Sparks. For me, the pacing was too slow, and overall the book was a touch too saccharine and sentimental.