Theo IS Golden

A friend recently recommended Allen Levi's Theo of Golden to me, saying it was an "Eileen book." By that she meant a book that's a feel-good read that lifts up your spirits and restores your faith in humanity. (A little background: ever since the pandemic I've gravitated toward books with positive themes and stories to help me offset the doom and gloom of current events.)

In a nutshell, the book is about an 86-year old Portuguese man who goes only by the name of "Theo" and stays in the fictional town of Golden, Georgia over the course of a year. On his first visit to the local coffee shop, he spots on the walls charcoal drawings of the town's people drawn by a local artist. There and then, he decides to buy each drawing over time and gift it to its subject.

You're probably thinking what I was thinking--what a dull book. But hear me out. In the "bestowals" of the portraits, which happen on a bench near a town fountain, Theo speaks with and sincerely listens to the recipients talk as they look at their portraits. Most of the time, they open up about themselves to the attentive older gentleman who gives them his time and his interest. In the process, Theo makes friends and becomes a recognizable, well-loved member of the small Southern community.

We get to know about the various people of Golden, but ironically, we know little of Theo who evades sharing too much of himself. Without giving anything away, we do learn about Theo at the end of the book, but the real takeaway is that in today's high-tech world we still have human needs. We have needs to connect with others in person, to be really seen, to be truly heard, to give and to receive kindness. Most importantly, we have a need to give of ourselves, something that no technology can achieve. This is why Theo of Golden has touched me and I suspect so many others so deeply, making it number one on The New York Times bestseller list.

Which book has struck a chord with you? Share with us!

Wishing you great, heartfelt, moving reads from the perch.

Let's Meet at the...Death Cafe??

Death and taxes are two things you can't avoid, and I suspect most of us would prefer discussing the latter over the former. 

In the U.S., the subject of death is taboo unless we have to deal with it once a loved one passes. When that happens, different questions may arise. How do you plan a funeral? Cremation or burial? What do you experience when you die? These are big, uncomfortable, and scary questions about our mortality, and although we may not have all the answers, we can discuss these issues at a death cafe.

So, what the heck is a death cafe? Simply put, a death cafe is a casual meeting open to anyone who wants to talk about various aspects of death in a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental environment. And it's anything but morbid (pardon the pun). It can often be held at actual cafes or, more increasingly, at libraries with snacks and beverages.

It's important to keep in mind that a death cafe is not a grief support group. Sometimes, but not always, professionals in the death care industry (yes, that's what it's called) are present to help answer questions pertaining to their specialties. Included may be morticians, embalmers, death doulas, hospice nurses, cemetery caretakers, and crematorium technicians among others.

What are your thoughts? Would you go to a death cafe if one was held in our library? Share with us!

Wishing you the best from the perch.