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Theo of Golden–showing kindness
Theo of Golden
by Allen Levi
A common question: “What is Theo of Golden about?” I can answer that two ways. In summary, it is about a humble, Portuguese man in his 80’s, Theo, who comes to live in the town of Golden, Georgia. He visits a coffee shop with a wall decor of 92 framed portraits and is inspired to connect each pencil drawing with the person represented. He buys a picture, invites the subject of the drawing to a park bench, gifts the depiction, and encourages that person to talk about themselves. That description is accurate, but falls short. Theo of Golden is about kindness, about looking into a person’s eyes to see their soul, about listening to their story, and about walking alongside them in times of pain and of joy. Yes, Theo of Golden is about kindness. Not random acts of kindness, but intentional, well-planned, respectful acts of kindness that are born of love.
Theo of Golden can be viewed as a book with Christian themes—or not. Its perspective is that of a man who wants to make the world a better place. I don’t think the author set out to write a “Christian book”; but, as a Christian, he did create a character who lives out the example set by Jesus. Kindness is held to be a positive value, something one should ascribe to, whether viewed as part of the Christian faith or not.
Most of the book is a slow and careful revelation of Theo. He is initially an enigma to the townspeople, but soon they accept him, appreciating casual interactions on a daily basis or a deep friendship with him that develops for some of them. Along the way to learning more about Theo, we meet many of his new friends—a night janitor whose daughter is hospitalized after an accident, a talented graduate student with a passion for the cello, and a homeless lady with mental issues. Tony, the owner of the Verbivore, a bookstore, is perpetually “a week away from closing his doors.” Asher is the prolific artist who created the portraits. Theo, with his quiet, calm, and kind ways, makes a difference in all of their lives and in that of so many of Golden’s residents.
Theo of Golden is a book that deserves a re-read as so many details will take on more depth of meaning when the reader has the benefit of a type of omniscience in regards to the characters and the plot. This novel will enchant and inspire; it will bring chuckles and tears. In the end, it will leave no reader unmoved.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Literary Fiction
Notes: Theo of Golden is Levi’s first novel, but it has taken the book world by storm. It is at the top of the New York Times bestseller list, with currently over a million copies sold since its publication by Atria. Before that, as a self-published book, 175,000 copies had been sold.
Publication: October 3, 2025—Atria
Memorable Lines:
“…for anything to be good, truly good, there must be love in it.”
“I confess that at first I did it hoping to make someone else happy. Now I fear that my reasons are almost entirely selfish. I do it because it brings such happiness to me.”
The little girl savors the warmth and expressiveness of the old man’s voice. It is not merely a sound. It is a place. A color. A haven.
“There is no virtue in advertising one’s sadness. But there is no wisdom in denying it either. And there is the beautiful possibility that great love can grow out of sadness if it is well-tended. Sadness can make us bitter or wise. We get to choose.”
“Baby, they’s justice and they’s mercy. If you not sure what to do and you gotta choose one or the other, I say always go the mercy way. If you make a mistake, make it for mercy. Bad mercy don’t hurt nearly like bad justice, and always remember, the eye of God can see.”
Empty Nest, Full Life: Discovering God’s Best for Your Nest
Empty Nest, Full Life: Discovering God’s Best for Your Nest
by Jill Savage
Parents, but mothers in particular, spend almost twenty years preparing their children to fly out of the nest and into the world of adulthood. It turns out that the releasing can be as hard as the preparation. There are issues of control, especially if you have boomerang kids. Mothers are good at piling guilt on themselves when things don’t work out perfectly or as expected for their kids. Grandkids are a blessing, but they come with their own set of issues. The list goes on and on.
Jill Savage, a speaker and teacher of the Bible, who has endured her own personal trials, shares Biblical wisdom and personal anecdotes to illustrate her viewpoints on various subjects related to the “empty nest” in Empty Nest, Full Life. The first half of the book is entitled “Let Go!” and discusses the problems encountered during the empty nest season. It speaks of letting go of expectations, guilt, opinions, traditions, your child’s problems, and your own idols (the things that steal your attention away from God, the things you use to identify yourself). Part Two is called “Hold On!” and within that section lie ideas for what to actually do during that season of the empty nest. Savage encourages you to grab hold of a new mission field, passions, and friendships. She encourages you to revitalize your marriage and your relationship with God.
Each chapter closes with a truth from the Bible, an action step, and a prayer. The book itself ends with encouragement for the next season, a list of questions to help you identify current or past baggage that has affected your marriage, reference notes, and a discussion guide for a leader to use in a small group setting.
My personal nest has been empty for a number of years so I am not approaching or in the middle of an empty nest crisis. I would imagine, however, that this book would be helpful for those wondering how to deal with their new found “freedom.”
I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Moody Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 4/5
Category: Christian, Parenting and Family
Publication: August 6, 2019—Moody Publishers
Memorable Lines:
Expectations will get us in trouble every time. They set us up for disappointment and leave us feeling disconnected.
Studies indicate the brain isn’t fully developed until the age of twenty-five. Yes, that means that our kids are now setting their own priorities when they’re not actually fully equipped to do so.
My friend Becky says that when she’s tempted to address something with her adult son, she tries to think of how she would address it with a friend. Most of the time she realizes she wouldn’t address it with a friend at all! This helps her find self-control and pray instead.
education pathways 