Theo of Golden went from a quiet self-published project to a major hit in a very short time. Readers really responded to the book’s themes of generosity, small-town life, gratitude and families (made, lost and found). Were you itching to find out Theo’s backstory? Did his generous gifting touch you? Do you now want to give your bicycle an awesome name? Answer these questions and more using these Theo of Golden book club questions.
This discussion guide covers 10 discussion prompts, a book synopsis, and some selected reviews; all designed to get you and your book club talking. And if you loved the book and want more like it, the bottom of this guide offers some further reading suggestions.
Theo of Golden Synopsis
(We always chose to provide the publisher synopsis because we feel that it’s worthwhile to discuss whether the official book description actually squared with your experience of the book.)
Theo of Golden, Allen Levi
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
Book Club Questions for Theo of Golden
These questions have been tailored to this book’s specific reading experience, but if you want more ideas, we also have an article with 101 generic book club questions.
- “Only a year. Not so long. But long enough to create a current of his own and to catch others in it. Without knowing it, the whole cadre— Asher, Tony, Ellen, Basil, dozens of others— was being carried along by the vortex that was Theo.“
Theo not only connected with folks individually, he also fostered a butterfly effect whereby the townsfolk collided and connected with one another. Talk about several instances in the book where that plays out. - Music, art, the play of light and flowing rivers are all metaphors that re-occur throughout the book. Pick one and discuss how the Levi used it to further the narrative or create mood.
- The narrative is written in the 3rd person, flowing from one person to the next. Did you find it easy to follow?
- For most of the book, Theo is a mystery, drawing out everyone’s story but not sharing his own. Why do think that the author chose to keep him under wraps for so long?
- And further, since Theo’s backstory got doled out so sparingly, some readers (noted below) were left frustrated. They felt that the book made the reader wait too long, suggesting that a heavier hand in editing would have improved the pacing. What do you think?
- And yet further, did the final reveal of Theo’s relationship with Gammy cause you to re-think some of the interactions and scenes from earlier in the book?
- “Minnette Glissen Prentiss, before I go, I remind you, this face belongs to one who is strong and brave and kind. It belongs to one who is capable of saintliness. You, my dear, are Gammy’s pride and joy, the gold of Golden, the wine of the Chalice, and, for an old man new to your town, a great blessing. I present to you this, the portrait of St. Minnette.”
The hand-offs on the bench often become a kind of therapy session for the recipient. Discuss how Theo accomplishes that. - “How is it, Theo wondered, that a piece of paper — a letter, a photo, a ticket stub, a sketch, a painting — is suddenly transformed by placing it in four bits of wood beneath a pane of glass? What does it mean that we place permanent boundaries around transient moments? What does it say of humankind that we take such trouble to freeze specific memories, that we devote such energy to capturing and preserving the “minute particulars” of our lives?”
Have you preserved some minute particulars? If so, share an example. - His final paintings feature a hat, a feather, a pair of shoes, a pill bottle and a riverscape. What was Theo saying with that choice?
- From the funeral, “And so, I say to you, my friends and neighbors, followers of Christ and those not, if you would honor the memory of Gamez Theophilus Zilavez, then do good, bestow kindness, strive for beauty, seek and find the river that leads to life everlasting, and draw from the fountain that never runs dry.”
Were you inspired by Theo’s acts of generosity? Has it made you rethink how you approach strangers? Or does his example have you thinking up your own generosity project? - BONUS QUESTION: Isn’t Verbivore the best name ever for a bookstore? Share some of your favorite bookstore names.
Selected Reviews for Theo of Golden
(Use these selected Goodreads reviews to compare with your own experience of the book. Do you agree or disagree with the reviews?)
“This book made me want to live a life more like Theo — one focused on generosity, listening intently, being curious, living humbly and others-focused, and slowing down. Theo shows that it is always the right time to be kind and loving towards your neighbor, and that there is a beautiful story behind every face you meet.”
[…] But overall, it didn’t totally land. The pacing felt slow in places, and some scenes leaned a little more symbolic than grounded, which kept me from fully connecting. I also found myself wanting a bit more development from a few of the characters—and even though Theo is supposed to be mysterious, I sometimes felt more kept at arm’s length than intrigued.”
“This book was exceptionally beautiful. It was filled with art and music and storytelling, but also humanity, kindness, and the the certainty that being seen, known, and cared for, makes all the difference in the world…. This is a book about humanity, art, and love. I give it all the stars. Its beautifully written too. Long and languorous, and eventually the mystery, story, and the tale of Theo is revealed. This book is something very special.”
“I agree that the writing is exquisite and I was moved multiple times, but it wasn’t enough to excuse what I felt was a glaring lack of story. Once it became clear that Theo was an old man with a secret I was intrigued and curious to see where the story would go. […] From a storytelling perspective, it’s presumptuous to assume your readers will remain engaged just because you promised them a secret in the beginning and spend the remaining 350+ pages doting over pretty landscapes, the kindness of humans, and the ability to convey both of those things with beautiful language but never raise the stakes enough to merit such a long wait for the reveal in the first place.”
What to Read Next
The way that Theo brings people together creates some unlikely allies. If you want more of that, try The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store or Lessons in Chemistry. And for more main characters with big secrets, try The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Buckeye or The Briar Club.
All of the links above go to my book club guides. Each has a non-spoiler synopsis toward the top with links to Amazon pricing and reviews.
And here are a few more ideas for you:
The Authenticity Project, Claire Pooley
If you want more kindness of strangers and elderly artists, this will be a great follow-up for you. The artist Julian Jessop decides to finally come clean, laying down his story in a journal which he then leaves at his local cafe. The project spools out from there, with subsequent people finding the journal and sharing their own stories. The book then circles back around to Julian in a surprising way.
Counting Miracles, Nicolas Sparks
For more feel-goods, small town life and finding a parent you never knew, try Counting Miracles.
Tanner was raised by his grandparents, following his grandfather’s footsteps into military service. Tanner’s mother died shortly after his birth and he never knew his father. Before his grandmother passed away, she left a note suggesting where he might find his father. So, he heads off to Asheboro, North Carolina to see what (or who) he might find.
The story unfolds from there, featuring a romantic interest with a local doctor, and an old man in the woods who’s trying to save a mythical white deer from hunters.
Swamplandia!, Karen Russell
If you’re feeling like Theo of Golden was a pretty amazing feat for a debut author (and I’m with you on that), then perhaps another surprise debut hit?
There are many, but I can wholeheartedly recommend Swamplandia! This surprising debut is both inventive and compassionate.
Ava Bigtree comes from a long line of alligator wrestlers. Her family has been running Swamplandia!, a wilderness theme-park perched on an island in the Florida Everglades, for generations. But when Ava’s famous mother passes away and a rival theme-park moves in on Swamplandia’s territory, Ava’s way of life begins to dissolve around her. Deserted by her father and brother, Ava launches a bold mission to rescue her sister, who has been seduced by a ghostly dredgeman far out in the swamp.
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