Last Updated on April 6, 2026
Resident Donna Martin will review Theo of Golden: A Novel By Allen Levi [New York: Atria, 2023] on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at 7 PM in the Auditorium. This is her review for the April 2026 issue of The Sunburst.
An 86-year-old gentleman named Theo arrives in the small town of Golden, Georgia. Shortly after arriving, he visits a coffee shop, where he is drawn to the 92 pencil portraits on the café walls. He begins to imagine the people portrayed and the lives they live. He wonders, what is the story this face is telling me? His resulting urge to discover the stories behind the portraits sparks a mission: to find the artist and to return the portraits to their subjects. And from there the tale unfolds.
Theo of Golden is the debut novel of Allen Levi, a Georgia lawyer, judge, and singer-songwriter who initially self-published the book on Amazon in 2023, at the urging of friends. The book became so popular that a publisher picked it up, readers continued to embrace it, and it went on to become a New York Times “breakout novel” of 2025.
The book has received high praise for its endearing yet powerful portrayal of memory, friendship, and human connection. It’s a heart-opening story that defies easy description; it was an effort, in the author’s words, to “draw the heart of a reader” in ways that help us experience the solace of simple kindness and see better how to cherish small things.
Donna Martin has lived at Charlestown for eight years. She has designed many ELLIC programs, including classes on environmental and LGBTQ issues. As a Methodist pastor, she focused on social justice issues; she later served as a hospice chaplain. Donna is a frequent contributor to Book Review.
~Donna Martin~