Librarian Janet Ross-Heiner recommends Theo of Golden by Allen Levi.
Theo of Golden transforms the propulsion of human experiences into a more quiet, contemplative form of writing. I am thrilled to invite you into experience Theo. Theo’s life of artistry, family, and persistence of vision with recognition and reflection is a beautiful story to behold.
Theo of Golden is a peaceful respite and a hope-filled story. A gentle story about connecting with people on a human level—vital to our world today. It’s about making space for other experiences and other viewpoints. It’s a slow, contemplative tale full of craft and rich with fine writing.
Storytelling at its best. A true gem in literary fiction.
It will take you to the River Marne in Portugal, also transport you into the community of Golden where the Fedder Fountain on the Promenade unfolds many fertile stories that stir imaginations. It will take you to Chalice, a space of intrigue. I will dare say; the Fountain of Fedder reminds me of our Community Library’s hearth, where many souls meet aside the word, a flame! On the edge of Golden, a river meanders.
Theo moves as a river: steady, quiet, shaping things without force.
“The river bent quietly past willow and buttonbush, its surface shifting in small, deliberate patterns. A kingfisher crossed once—blue, exact—then was gone. At the bank, damp soil held fast with roots, petals turning slowly into an eddy. Nothing called attention to itself, and in that stillness, everything continued water moving, branches stirring, the place settling around him as if he had always been there.”
Levi writes with grounded observation—not only from the portraits he admiringly purchases, but also with his razor-sharp descriptions of nature’s surroundings. You will see a fascinating story behind every face sketch. The writing shares a rich stratigraphic layering of experiences well lived. Theo is an enigma who draws the reader into many spaces and places.
Theo’s mystery isn’t meant to be solved—it’s meant to be felt.
He is almost “otherworldly” in how he moves through Golden. He is not a figure defined by explanation but by the way he lives. He moves through the world with the attentiveness of a fine artist—seeing what others pass by.
I recommend the Libby eAudio book with its great narration. You can also read it in print. But read it, you must! I cannot recommend this book more. It was by chance that I entered the world of Theo. Try yourself; you won’t be disappointed.
Find it in our collection here.
Allen Levi—attorney, judge, singer/songwriter, author—Theo of Golden is his first novel and self-published in 2023. Atria took over the publication in October 2025. Since then, the novel has become a phenomenon, first hitting the New York Times bestseller list in November 2025 and rising to #1 in 2026.
Oh! Word has it, there is a sequel in the making: Ellen of Golden. Stay tuned!
