Kirchersmiles

15 de junio de 2026

When a Story Becomes a Gift!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (But honestly, 5 stars isn't enough.)I've been an avid reader for many years, and Theo of Golden has earned a place among my all-time favorite books.I went to bed last night knowing I had to log in for work early this morning, but I literally could not stop reading until I finished. And when I turned that final page, I wasn't sure whether my tears were from the story itself or from it being over. It was definitely both.I loved every single second of this book. What I especially loved was that I never had it figured out. IYKYK. I enjoyed the story so much that I was never looking for where it was going, and when the last quarter of the book hit. :::Sigh:::I'm struggling to find the right words because some books are simply too special to summarize. Every so often, as a reader, you come across a story that hits differently, a story that is so heartwarming, beautiful, and meaningful that reading it feels like receiving a gift you didn't even know you needed. Theo of Golden is exactly that, and so much more.I went into this book completely blind. The simplicity of the cover caught my attention, and something about the title just spoke to me. I purchased the Kindle version, but I'll absolutely be ordering the paperback because this is one I need on my bookshelf.I'm not even going to attempt to explain the plot because I don't want to take away from anyone else's experience. What I will say is that I was completely transported into this story. I could vividly picture every place mentioned. The writing was descriptive without ever feeling excessive or slowing the pace, which is something I truly appreciated.There are a lot of characters in this book, a lot of names and stories intertwined. Normally, that can feel overwhelming, but somehow it never did. When Theo met someone, I felt like I met them too. I never struggled to keep track of anyone because every character felt real, distinct, and memorable.Trust me when I say you need to visit Golden. You need to meet Theo. You need to experience the people he encounters along the way. And perhaps most of all, you'll find yourself wishing that every one of us could meet someone in our lives who possesses even a fraction of Theo's kindness, wisdom, and heart.The writing is beautiful, effortless, and flows so naturally that the pages seem to turn themselves. Allen Levi absolutely knocked his debut novel out of the park. This book reminded me why I fell in love with reading in the first place.I will eagerly read anything this author writes next.I can not wait to read this again!!Ver más

64 personas la encontraron útil

stephen green

19 de julio de 2026

Best fictional story I’ve ever read! A masterpiece!

Though the story involves music and art, it is a masterpiece of art itself! It moved my wife to tears more than once, both happy and sad ones. It’s captivating and inspiring, pulls you deeper into the mystery of Theo’s life and all the characters and surroundings of Golden. She tends to enjoy philosophical books more than fictional stories, but this one seemed to satisfy her thirst for philosophical thought, too. Should be made into a movie! Wonderful!Ver más

6 personas la encontraron útil

Elvis Bray

7 de julio de 2026

Wonderful feel good novel!

I just completed reading Theo of Golden by Allen Levi. As an author myself, I was very impressed with the story, which is always what makes a good book. It took a lot of imagination to come up with the extremely well written book. I would have never thought this was Allen Levi’s first book. It has so many twists and unexpected turns, and so many characters in it, that it is sometimes hard to keep them straight. The book has a good beginning to keep the readers turning pages. The middle is a, “I can’t put it down,” story. The ending was very unexpected that no one should guess. It is apparent the author spent a lot of time writing this wonderful book. This book is a mystery, a love story, and an art story in a small town that isn’t much different than many towns in the American south. Except for the Bible, it is as good of a book as I ever read. I HIGHTLY recommend this book to everyone. I will be very surprised if it isn’t made into a move.Elvis BrayVer más

20 personas la encontraron útil

SRC

17 de julio de 2026

Good, but soporific

I know this is a very popular book and a nice feel-good heart-warmer. It is a good book but I am going to differ from others, and say that I did not find it great.I had a hard time staying awake during the first 55 chapters or so and could only finish one of the short chapters at a time before it lulled me to sleep. In fact, I was so lulled to sleep that I did not believe I could finish the book without significant will power. While the descriptions of nature, trees, plants, rivers, art, Port wine and Portugal showed an admirable attention to detail, it was in fact, monotonous and repetitive until the last 5 chapters or so, when I was able to stay awake, knowing that the finale was coming. There in fact, was no story arc. No gradual build-up of tension. Just a long and steady plateau of many similar chapters, then finally a heart-warming peak at the end. But I must admit, that was somewhat expected.I will congratulate the writer on a good, creative story that was well thought out and researched, but I did not enjoy how the author employed the omniscient narrator constantly to tell the reader exactly how each character felt in his or her head at the time, and not allowing the reader to form his own opinion. It required more "show" and less "telling".Ver más

45 personas la encontraron útil

Kassandra B

20 de julio de 2026

A beautiful book to read and melt your heart!

★★★★★Theo of Golden is one of those rare books that stays with you long after you’ve turned the final page. I don’t cry easily over books, but the last several chapters absolutely broke me. I found myself weeping—not because the story was manipulative, but because it was so deeply human, beautiful, and full of hope.Allen Levi has a remarkable gift for storytelling. His writing is vivid, poetic, and richly descriptive, painting every scene with such artistry that I felt completely immersed in Theo’s world. Every page feels intentional, every character meaningful, and every moment carries a quiet wisdom.More than just a novel, Theo of Golden is an invitation to live differently. It reminds us that kindness matters, that ordinary people can leave extraordinary legacies, and that a life devoted to doing good is never wasted. It challenged my heart, inspired my spirit, and left me wanting to be a better person.This is, without question, one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read. It’s heartbreaking, healing, and profoundly life-changing. A masterpiece in every sense.Five stars isn’t enough.Ver más

25 personas la encontraron útil

mavo

5 de febrero de 2026

A story of art, music and writing

Like the face of heaven. That’s how I see Theo, and I hope this will be a movie.“Theo of Golden” is the debut novel by Allen Levi. He was writing as a personal challenge and just doing some scenes. He began writing in 2019-2020. He had been a songwriter and lawyer. He has no connection to Portugal, which is mentioned in the book quite a bit and led me to try Port wine. This book will lead me to do a lot of things.Theo is a supremely interesting man! More on that other familiar interesting man in a later post.The book will make you want to look at the faces of people. Use a gaze that calms and loves. Be kind and generous. Greet people. Be less fearful and exchange stories. Be attentive. Love people up close. Invest in the art of living. Be beautiful, useful and pleasurable. All which I should be doing, but will now do for Lent.Theo listened with genuine interest, adoringly, encouraging and with gratitude.Newborns look for their mother’s face, a particular gaze that calms, loves and welcomes them. Someone they recognize, run to greet and someone to bond with.Levi signs the books “With thanks for the Theo in you.” He greets kids at a high school three days a week. He reads to second graders. He doesn’t mind being around people not like him.The coffee shop setting is a real place in Columbus, Ga. It’s called Fountain City Coffee. In picking bestowals of the sketches there, Theo looked for someone lost, weary, worried or troubled that the gift would encourage or help.I got to hear him in a Zoom. A group of women from Vermont who lost their daughters came to Georgia on a pilgrimage. He was a steward of clean rivers and water and said the river still flows after death. He went through a “walking season” in losing his daughter.In a book about knowing a person, it is mentioned that a bench is a good way to do this. 7 p.m. was Theo’s meeting time with the strangers for bestowals and ended up being the time of the funeral. He also mentioned “Think Little” by Wendell Berry. Do so and if everyone does, it spreads.Levi was born in 1956. His dad is 98. His mother passed and he lost his brother, whom he called a clone of Theo, at 55. His dad was a forester, explaining his interest in nature. Springtime is an end with a future, said Theo.One character named Tony runs the Verbivore book store and has the Penny Loafers out there because they haven’t spent a penny and they majored in loafing. Theo and Tony end up having Port together and he told Theo is Viet Nam stories. The Penny Loafers were better than a room full of Senators. They lie. Tony ends up being more of a believer of Jesus at the end because he wasn’t before Theo.James Ponder has no degrees hanging in his office. Note the “ponder” mentions throughout. He is a dispenser of advice, secret keeper and agent of calm. Secretary Mrs. Gidley was suspicious of Theo at first but comes around. Ponder was Theo’s landlord and mentioned the 18-inch railing and three flights of stairs before the 86 year old decided to live there.Kendrick reminds me of the custodian who won “America’s Got Talent,” who has an ill daughter Lamisha, who wants to be a physical therapist or artist in the end. Her education will be paid for by Theo as were some of her medical bills. Maria Menendez is the daughter of the “little man” who killed Theo’s wife and daughter in an accident. Maria had cancer.I don’t want to give away too much, but Theo decided to love Asher, the sketch artist, with two hearts. And there is much more to that.Simone wears a wardrobe that honors music on stage and guests who come to listen did the same. Cello intricacies became fascinating to me and I looked up some of the music mentioned. His bow was a gift from Theo. He played Fado for Theo at his concert. It ended up being a requiem with three characters, Kendrick and Basil, the busker. Simone’s parents were there and I wasn’t clear if Theo sprang for their trip. At the end, Basil studies to get a doctorate in American literature.Katherine is the reporter who respects Theo’s wishes while many people she interviews are praise seekers and applause junkies. He was a friend, not a headline.Ellen rides a bike and I’ll just call her different. He gave her a foldable handsaw, cordless sander, drill and wood burner to make feather boxes. I have made one because of this book. She had $1,600 to her name from selling them, but gave the money to the cello fund after she and Simone were assaulted and the perpetrator was never caught.Cleave is the poisonous guy—like a snake, hemlock, black widow or “words with no wisdom guy.”All but Cleve show community in sitting on the same row or pew. They all have sparks of hope.I loved this line: We walk all roads, long and winding. Road to ruin. Easy Street. Road less traveled.I’m so mad that my notes from Chapter 10-28 somehow disappeared. I may reread. This post would be longer. I probably have a dozen favorite books and just added this one.