(Ordered from Amazon for about $10): The third book for my online book club. I knew I was in trouble in the first few pages when a young woman gives her life story to a complete stranger who has sent her a letter promising to gift her with a portrait. By the end of the book, I thought I was getting diabetes. The premise is straight out of a Hallmark card. A mysterious, wealthy old man (Theo of the title) shows up in a small Georgia town called Golden. He happens upon a coffee shop with portraits of the customers on the wall. He decides to buy the pictures one by one and present them to the subjects cause he's such a saintly fellow. Of course, each giftee has their own fascinating life story which they spill to Theo upon the bestowal. The nice people are so nice and the mean people are so mean, it made my teeth ache. There is a final twist which explains Theo's altruistic actions, but it's not believable.
Levi is an attorney and judge and this is his first novel. Good for him for getting it published and making it into a best-seller. But it's a predictable, easy, unchallenging read. A box of feel-good chocolates, nowhere near real life.
I just read Tom Hanks is planning to star in the movie version. How appropriate, another Forrest Gump role.
No comments:
Post a Comment