Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

 I have been hearing all sorts of glowing reports about the goodness of this book, and I couldn't get it at the library, so I treated myself to it when I was in Granger, Indiana, looking after the grandkids. I went to Barnes and Noble, and sat by the fireplace and read a few pages to see if I liked it. I did! And then I saved it for my flights home.

I am so happy I had this book for my LONG travel day yesterday! I was hung up in Chicago, at O'Hare airport for more than six hours. I was able to actually enjoy that time...walking, and reading, reading and walking. I'm so grateful that it was engrossing, positive, intriguing, and really held my interest all day. By the time I landed in St. George, after a stop in Denver, I had finished it. It's not a short book, but what a joy it was to give the whole day to it! I think it also helped me feel so much gratitude as I reflected on my time in Indiana, my time with the grandkids, and my time in Laramie and Rapid City as we flew over them!

It is a delightful read with a rather blunt and violent ending, but it works out in a way that is instructive. I liked the subtle message of heaven and Christ woven throughout Theo's bestowal of gifts. In some ways, it's more overt than many "modern" readers would appreciate, but it's so solid and so heartening that I think it's hard to take offense at it. Christianity has taken a lot of hard knocks in our culture, and it's so popular to cry foul and list all the ways churches have failed us...So it was refreshing to read a book that extols Christian virtues in an unapologetic way. 

Theo reminded me of the Count in A Gentleman in Moscow. Both are cultured, older, refined, educated, and gracious gentlemen. They choose to see good and be good and encourage good in others. It was a sweet comparison to contemplate. I admire both characters sooooo much. I like books with great characters!

I especially liked the way Theo was able to articulate to people what he saw in their portraits and what he saw in THEM. This had a magic way of lifting their spirits and helping them see themselves in a more capable light, especially the homeless woman. It's a good model for what all of us could be doing more of... There were also many encouragements to enjoy nature, to enjoy the moment, and to really look people in the eye when we encounter them. So many good reminders! So refreshing...

An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin

 This book attracted me at Deseret Industries because it was a hard copy with an interesting, artsy cover, and when I opened it to browse, there were several paintings throughout the book. The jacket reminded me that Steve Martin is an author besides a talented banjo player and comic. The jacket also described that the story centers on art auctions and art dealers and that whole world, which intrigued me because I love art, and know little about the commercial side of it.

The characters in this book are an art reviewer and an up and coming art dealer with loose morals. She's an intriguing character, however, because of how she navigates her way through that world. There is some foul language, a few sex scenes, and quite a bit of confusion (at least in my mind) about who is dealing what and for what profit, etc., I just floated along with the story and enjoyed, for the most part, learning about this urban world. I have no doubt that most of it is fiction and that the players are not as flamboyant or free of morals as they were portrayed. It did recall for me some of the education I've had around art history and what constitutes "good art." I enjoyed pondering that question again as the characters dealt with modern art vs. Picassos and Rembrandts. It's clear that Martin knows a lot! But this book was not particularly compelling...just kind of fluffy and gratuitous... But worth the $1.00 I paid for it, just to enjoy the paintings!