Theo of Golden began its publishing journey as a self published book written by 70 year old Allen Levi as a debut novel. Through word of mouth, he sold 10,000 copies and was then picked up by Simon & Schuster. A dream come true.

The reason, I think, is that it is exactly the kind of book people want to read after a day bombarded with social media, news, and a growing darkness we see all around us. This slow paced, poetically written story is about an enigmatic older man (he’s 86) who comes to a small southern town and spreads kindness and generosity of spirit. The main criticism from readers is that it is plods along. The accolades celebrate it for taking its time.

Theo, whose last name we are never told, comes to the small town of Golden to live. All we know about him is that he’s originally from Portugal, has lived in major cities all over the world, and presents himself as a kindly, interested man. One of his first stops in Golden is to get coffee at a popular café. He finds more than a good cup of coffee there. On one wall hangs 92 portraits of locals. None of them have been sold. Theo studies them carefully, is drawn immediately to several intriguing faces, and buys them. So begins his work in Golden.  He will buy them all and personally bestow them to the subjects.

He hand writes a letter to each recipient inviting them to meet him on a bench in the town center to receive their portrait. He wants them to have the portrait, of course, but it is a ruse to get them to tell their stories expanding on what he sees in their faces. This becomes life changing for the recipients in more ways than this because Theo symbolizes generosity. He is compassionate and if he hears something that he can help with financially, he does so. Anonymously.

The characters who live in Golden are colorful, interesting people. Asher, the portrait artist; Shep and Addie whose café, the Chalice, is a meeting place as well as a gallery Ellen, a homeless woman, whose knowledge of literature would put any of us to shame; Tony, the bookstore owner, still reeling from his tour in Vietnam; Kendrick and Lamisha, a father and daughter, struggling after an accident; and Mr. Ponders, who is privy to and administers all of Theo’s good deeds.

Most of us will relate to the stories, at least in part.  It is certainly not all happiness and rainbows. Tony’s memories of Vietnam are crushing; a story of an illegal immigrant is heartbreaking, the memories of a mentally ill woman and her losses is devastating but… being heard and occasionally being helped makes all the difference.

It was refreshing to read about someone who used his wealth anonymously to improve lives around him. However, the ending was odd. After we read through pages of generosity of spirit, we are hit with violence and then as an addendum, the reader is given the full story of who Theo is, why he came to Golden, and how he became so wealthy, in a New York newspaper article. I think it wouldn’t have been as jarring if some of this was integrated into the main story. Divulging the backstory in a newspaper article? Really?

Alan Levi realized every writer’s dream in his self published to best seller story. As Theo does with the townspeople of Golden, I would like to meet him on a park bench to hear his story! This may be his first novel but he has also been a songwriter, storyteller, blogger, and letter writer for most of his life. His new novel in progress will center on Ellen, the homeless book woman, who Theo helped become an entrepreneur.

This book will resonate if you enjoy or if you are in need of an uplifting narrative.  But if you are not a fan of a story that takes its time and maybe has too much religious philosophy, I’d recommend passing.