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Theo of Golden by Allen Levi · Books and Box Office Besties

• 0:31
  SPEAKER_01: Woo! Love that intro, everybody.
• 0:34
  SPEAKER_01: Hi, I'm Kim, and I'd like to welcome you all to Books and Box Office Besties.
• 0:39
  SPEAKER_01: We are so happy to be here, and I'm with my co-host today, Wendy.
• 0:43
  SPEAKER_01: Hi, everyone.
• 0:45
  SPEAKER_01: This is where best friends get together to talk about their favorite books and the characters with other book lovers.
• 0:51
  SPEAKER_01: That's our besties.
• 0:52
  SPEAKER_01: It just feels so good when you can tell somebody about a great book you've just read.
• 0:56
  SPEAKER_01: It's like sharing some tea.
• 0:59
  SPEAKER_01: Hopefully, they spread the word.
• 1:00
  SPEAKER_01: So today we have Wendy here who's picked this book out, Theo of Golden.
• 1:06
  SPEAKER_01: And uh Wendy, where did you find this book from?
• 1:09
  SPEAKER_01: And how did you decide this is the recap that you wanted to give today?
• 1:14
  SPEAKER_00: Well, it was recommended by one of our listeners, and I was a little bit hesitant, and so I gave the book a try and I decided I love it.
• 1:24
  SPEAKER_00: This book was released October 3rd of 2025, so it's not brand new, but it's still very relevant.
• 1:31
  SPEAKER_01: Yes.
• 1:32
  SPEAKER_01: But if I remember correctly, we both were going to do the audio version of it, and then we decided, or well, you decided that you were gonna go and read the book, which I'm gonna go read the book too, but you had two completely different views.
• 1:48
  SPEAKER_01: What do you think the big difference is between the audio and actually reading the book?
• 1:52
  SPEAKER_00: I think the audio didn't work for me on this book.
• 1:55
  SPEAKER_00: I needed to give it to my full attention.
• 1:58
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, it's such a good book, and it's written so masterfully that I just couldn't, I could not just listen to it.
• 2:06
  SPEAKER_00: The audio just doesn't work for me.
• 2:07
  SPEAKER_00: And to be honest, audio doesn't work for me a lot of the times, but that's okay because I know some people love audio, and that's fine.
• 2:15
  SPEAKER_00: It's just that I had to read the book a second time to really appreciate it.
• 2:20
  SPEAKER_01: So after reading this book, and even during this book, how did it make you feel?
• 2:25
  SPEAKER_01: Did it evoke some emotions?
• 2:26
  SPEAKER_01: Because that's what the tea is out there on the on the shorts.
• 2:30
  SPEAKER_00: Oh my god, I loved it.
• 2:33
  SPEAKER_00: I felt so good and and so happy when I was done reading this book.
• 2:39
  SPEAKER_00: Like I really read a work of art.
• 2:42
  SPEAKER_00: That's how I felt about it.
• 2:44
  SPEAKER_00: Yes.
• 2:44
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, I loved this book, which is weird because the first time I didn't feel that way.
• 2:52
  SPEAKER_01: I know that's what I think is amazing about all this.
• 2:54
  SPEAKER_01: At first, you're like, ah, it's okay, and I don't see what all the hype is.
• 2:59
  SPEAKER_01: But then when you read the book, I know that as you were reading the book, you were sending me chapters what you thought about it, and you were like so excited about it.
• 3:07
  SPEAKER_01: I think that sometimes maybe you hear the character's voice, you know what the character feels, you know, after reading the book.
• 3:17
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I like hearing it in my head better, I guess.
• 3:20
  SPEAKER_00: The voices in my head sound better to me.
• 3:22
  SPEAKER_01: Okay.
• 3:23
  SPEAKER_01: Well, we'll keep that one to yourself then.
• 3:25
  SPEAKER_01: So, how long did it take you to read this book?
• 3:28
  SPEAKER_00: About a week.
• 3:29
  SPEAKER_00: But about a week?
• 3:31
  SPEAKER_00: You know, I will work a full-time job, so sorry it takes so long.
• 3:35
  SPEAKER_01: No, that's fine.
• 3:36
  SPEAKER_01: That's fine.
• 3:37
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, I had over 60 chapters, so I'm not gonna say it's like the smallest of books, but I'm good.
• 3:45
  SPEAKER_01: That's good.
• 3:46
  SPEAKER_01: So I know that I'm gonna ask you this in the end, so keep this thought in your head.
• 3:52
  SPEAKER_01: How many popcorns would you rate this book out of one to five, not four, one to five?
• 3:56
  SPEAKER_01: So just keep that.
• 3:58
  SPEAKER_01: And so our listeners know too.
• 4:00
  SPEAKER_01: Is there anything else you want to say about this book before I talk about our um our disclaimer?
• 4:07
  SPEAKER_00: No, I think as soon as you're done, I'll just get started with the recap.
• 4:10
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, I'm looking forward to that.
• 4:12
  SPEAKER_01: So Wendy and I are so happy to be here with our besties.
• 4:15
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, we've been sharing books for years and years, uh, maybe a few decades and then some.
• 4:19
  SPEAKER_01: But the best part about it is sharing it and talking about it.
• 4:22
  SPEAKER_01: And like Wendy said, the first time she listened to this book, it wasn't her cup of tea.
• 4:27
  SPEAKER_01: Wink wink.
• 4:28
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but then when she read the book, she absolutely loved it.
• 4:32
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, it can really change the way you listen to something and the way you give your undivided attention.
• 4:37
  SPEAKER_01: But one of the things that we're doing here on Books and Box Office Besties is we're going over the book.
• 4:42
  SPEAKER_01: Normally we're not gonna go and give such a big uh recap, but if you can't tell, Wendy's enthusiasm is like out of just out there.
• 4:53
  SPEAKER_01: And so we're gonna talk about, or she's gonna talk a little bit more about the book in depth.
• 4:58
  SPEAKER_01: And also, spoiler and disclaimer here, we are gonna talk about the entire book and how the book ends.
• 5:04
  SPEAKER_01: So if you don't want to know how the book ends just yet, then you might want to pause and then come back to us after you've read the book.
• 5:12
  SPEAKER_01: Or if you've already read the book or you just want to hear a good book, and after listening to Wendy, you'd be like, Oh, I'm gonna get that book.
• 5:20
  SPEAKER_01: That's great.
• 5:20
  SPEAKER_01: That is what our intentions is to share a good book.
• 5:23
  SPEAKER_01: So please be mindful.
• 5:25
  SPEAKER_01: We're gonna tell you the whole tea and how it ends.
• 5:28
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, Wendy, take it away.
• 5:30
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, the book starts by telling the reader that Theo went to Golden for a year from spring to spring.
• 5:37
  SPEAKER_00: And we found out that he's come to Golden from New York City, where he currently resides, and he was dropped off in a private jet and a chauffeured limousine, so that tells you a little.
• 5:48
  SPEAKER_00: We learn Theo is full of curiosity over every little thing, and he can speak five languages.
• 5:55
  SPEAKER_00: I personally found Theo's curiosity a bit childlike and wondrous, and it really warms me up to the character right away.
• 6:01
  SPEAKER_00: We learn he's in no hurry and has no deadlines.
• 6:05
  SPEAKER_00: He doesn't know anybody from Golden, save one person.
• 6:09
  SPEAKER_00: My first thought was, so why is he here and who is that one person?
• 6:13
  SPEAKER_00: He's drawn into a coffee shop while he's on a walk and he notices a wall covered in artwork.
• 6:19
  SPEAKER_00: All the portraits are done in pencil, on white paper, and in black frames.
• 6:23
  SPEAKER_00: There's 92 of them to be exact.
• 6:25
  SPEAKER_00: All are obviously by the same artist.
• 6:29
  SPEAKER_00: His curiosity is sparked.
• 6:31
  SPEAKER_00: Theo wanders back into the coffee shop later that day and meets the barista chef.
• 6:36
  SPEAKER_00: He inquires about the portraits.
• 6:38
  SPEAKER_00: He learns that one of the customers, Asher Glissen, is a prominent artist in Golden, and he was asked if he wanted to display some of his artwork at the Chalice, which is the name of the coffee shop.
• 6:50
  SPEAKER_00: Asher decides to draw portraits of several of the customers, and Shep and Addie, the owners, display them proudly on the wall.
• 6:59
  SPEAKER_00: His idea takes off, the patrons love it, and Asher goes on to draw many, many more, now currently at 92 portraits, which are all for sale.
• 7:09
  SPEAKER_00: As it turns out, Asher's mother was also an artist and told her son that every face tells a story.
• 7:15
  SPEAKER_00: When Theo looked at the portraits, he felt the same way, that each face held a story.
• 7:20
  SPEAKER_00: He was transfixed.
• 7:21
  SPEAKER_00: He was also surprised and a bit troubled that the portraits were still there and not many of them had sold.
• 7:29
  SPEAKER_00: And he expressed that he wished someone would come in and buy all of them.
• 7:35
  SPEAKER_00: Theo returned the next day for coffee and studied the portraits again.
• 7:40
  SPEAKER_00: He picked one of a young woman with short hair, unsmiling, but a friendly face.
• 7:45
  SPEAKER_00: He paid Shepp$125 cash for it.
• 7:49
  SPEAKER_00: Shep asked, why that one?
• 7:51
  SPEAKER_00: And Theo replied, he would be happy with them all, but that one intrigued him most for the moment.
• 7:57
  SPEAKER_00: Did anybody else wonder why he picked that particular one?
• 8:02
  SPEAKER_00: I did.
• 8:03
  SPEAKER_00: I'm sorry, go ahead, Kim.
• 8:05
  SPEAKER_01: I was gonna say Yes, I was interested what caught his attention in that particular one, considering there's 92 of them.
• 8:15
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, and I think we do find out a little bit later in the story what caught his attention to that portrait.
• 8:22
  SPEAKER_00: And considering this book is you know over six or sixty chapters, I won't get into every little minute detail, but we're going to go a bit deeper here.
• 8:32
  SPEAKER_01: So But there is a reason.
• 8:35
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, there is a reason.
• 8:36
  SPEAKER_00: Okay.
• 8:37
  SPEAKER_00: Theo went back to his hotel and read the name on the back.
• 8:41
  SPEAKER_00: It said Minette Prentice.
• 8:44
  SPEAKER_00: He searched the computer and found she was a CPA with a reputable accounting firm.
• 8:48
  SPEAKER_00: Now he had her address and he could compose his letter.
• 8:51
  SPEAKER_00: He wrote to her telling her of his purchase and that he would like to give her the portrait, and if she would not mind meeting him near the chalice.
• 8:59
  SPEAKER_00: We learn he is 86 years old in this letter, so he's no spring chicken.
• 9:05
  SPEAKER_00: So I think he put his age in the letter to maybe make her feel a little safer because it's so odd.
• 9:11
  SPEAKER_00: And I personally found this strange.
• 9:13
  SPEAKER_00: If I ever received a letter like this, I'd be very leery.
• 9:17
  SPEAKER_00: He he did sign the letter with kindest regards.
• 9:21
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, I that just means he's a nice guy, right?
• 9:24
  SPEAKER_01: Of course.
• 9:27
  SPEAKER_00: That's how I sign my letters, kind regards, to be honest.
• 9:30
  SPEAKER_00: But still, I mean, I really find that kind of leery.
• 9:33
  SPEAKER_00: So let's continue.
• 9:34
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I would too.
• 9:36
  SPEAKER_00: Moving on, we begin now with Minette Prentice telling her husband she received the strangest letter.
• 9:42
  SPEAKER_00: She continues to tell her husband she received a letter from an old man about the portrait of her in the chalice and that he bought it and wants to meet her at the fountain near the chalice and give her the portrait.
• 9:52
  SPEAKER_00: She now has her husband's full attention because he's concerned yet curious.
• 9:58
  SPEAKER_00: He thinks it sounds dangerous and wonders if it's a joke from somebody they know.
• 10:02
  SPEAKER_00: She doesn't think it's a joke and she shows him the letter.
• 10:05
  SPEAKER_00: Here we find Asher, the artist, is her uncle, and her husband is an attorney.
• 10:12
  SPEAKER_00: He suggests she asks Asher or Shepp if they know anything about this man.
• 10:16
  SPEAKER_00: Manette feels the letter is innocent and suggests they meet him.
• 10:20
  SPEAKER_00: She thinks maybe she's crazy or naive, but she believes this could just be an innocent old man who wants to do something nice.
• 10:28
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe I watch too much true crime TV or something because that's not what I took from it.
• 10:33
  SPEAKER_00: But luckily, she felt differently.
• 10:37
  SPEAKER_00: Because regardless, she decides to meet the man.
• 10:40
  SPEAKER_00: Well, actually, they decide to meet the man together.
• 10:43
  SPEAKER_00: You know, just uh this does give us an insight into Asher's studio and his love of drawing.
• 10:48
  SPEAKER_00: He's very talented and he's a big character in the book, so that was a little side of his character.
• 10:53
  SPEAKER_00: Now, back to Minette and Derek.
• 10:55
  SPEAKER_00: They're on their way to meet Theo.
• 10:57
  SPEAKER_00: Tony, the bookseller, nearby, took Derek's attention away, trying to get him to purchase a book.
• 11:04
  SPEAKER_00: This also introduces us to the character of Tony, the bookstore owner, a kind but very unique fellow.
• 11:12
  SPEAKER_00: While Derek is preoccupied, Minette slips off to meet Theo.
• 11:16
  SPEAKER_00: When she walked toward him, Theo stood and took off his hat.
• 11:19
  SPEAKER_00: She thought he looked like a young old instead of an old old man.
• 11:24
  SPEAKER_00: She found his face gentle and inviting, not creepy at all.
• 11:28
  SPEAKER_00: After changing pleasantries, she thought him to be old school and kind.
• 11:34
  SPEAKER_00: All her apprehensions were dispelled.
• 11:36
  SPEAKER_00: Manette asked Theo why he did this, not to be rude, but out of great curiosity.
• 11:40
  SPEAKER_00: Theo agreed it must seem strange, and they began conversing.
• 11:44
  SPEAKER_00: In the meantime, Derek finally notices his wife missing, typical husband.
• 11:49
  SPEAKER_02: Yep.
• 11:49
  SPEAKER_00: He looks to see her absorbed in conversation.
• 11:53
  SPEAKER_00: He observes from a distance, convinced Theo is not a danger.
• 11:57
  SPEAKER_00: Theo went on to explain he was not sure where the idea came from, and he found the portraits compelling and beautiful, but he felt they belonged somewhere else.
• 12:05
  SPEAKER_00: Here's where we find out he intends to buy them all and send them to their homes one by one.
• 12:10
  SPEAKER_00: Manette inquired how many he had given away, and he told her how this was the first one he picked, and because he wasn't so sure of himself and of his idea, and she had the kindest face and the gentlest faced among them.
• 12:24
  SPEAKER_00: That's so sweet.
• 12:25
  SPEAKER_00: It is.
• 12:26
  SPEAKER_00: Manette, as everyone else seems to, can open up to Theo because he is so approachable and genuine.
• 12:32
  SPEAKER_00: Theo also tells her there's one last reason he chose her first.
• 12:36
  SPEAKER_00: There was a woman he loved in Spain a long time ago, and the portrait reminded him of her.
• 12:42
  SPEAKER_00: He was reminded of his love, but he went on to say he was a foolish young man and he lost her.
• 12:48
  SPEAKER_00: She was kind and beautiful and brave, and although it's been more than half a century, he has never forgotten her.
• 12:54
  SPEAKER_00: He gives Manette his story, and Manette opens up to him in return.
• 12:58
  SPEAKER_00: It was so truly heartfelt.
• 13:00
  SPEAKER_00: This summary doesn't do it justice.
• 13:02
  SPEAKER_00: It just doesn't.
• 13:03
  SPEAKER_00: It actually has to be read.
• 13:06
  SPEAKER_00: Theo is happy with his plan and contemplates how to pick their next portrait, excited to be giving them to each person.
• 13:13
  SPEAKER_00: During the next few weeks, Theo becomes comfortable in Golden.
• 13:17
  SPEAKER_00: Becoming good friends with Shep, Tony, the bookstore owner, and many other residents.
• 13:22
  SPEAKER_00: Many people ask him what brought him to the city of Golden.
• 13:25
  SPEAKER_00: Theo was originally from Portugal, and Theo never lied, citing business with a bit of property, but he was always very vague.
• 13:33
  SPEAKER_00: By this point in the book, I'm not bored, okay?
• 13:36
  SPEAKER_00: But it is a little slow for my liking, and I'm also wondering why is he there?
• 13:40
  SPEAKER_00: Why does he not know how long he'll be there?
• 13:42
  SPEAKER_00: When will he find a place to stay?
• 13:44
  SPEAKER_00: It could just be me.
• 13:45
  SPEAKER_00: And I think this is part of the reason the first time I went through it, I was so intent on why, why, why was he there?
• 13:52
  SPEAKER_00: And I wasn't enjoying the journey.
• 13:54
  SPEAKER_00: And the second time I just enjoyed the journey of reading the book.
• 13:58
  SPEAKER_01: I also think that a lot of the books that you've recommended to me have been like psychological thrillers, crime solvers, chasing evil.
• 14:06
  SPEAKER_01: It's always like, what's next?
• 14:08
  SPEAKER_01: What's next?
• 14:09
  SPEAKER_01: What's next?
• 14:09
  SPEAKER_01: So put the puzzle together.
• 14:11
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I am used to that genre a lot more, but this was a wonderful book.
• 14:16
  SPEAKER_00: So let's continue.
• 14:18
  SPEAKER_00: Theo did tell Tony, the bookstore owner, when asked that he was looking for something small and easy to maintain and close to the theater and concert hall, something furnished, something he could rent, and price is no object.
• 14:31
  SPEAKER_00: So he told the bookstore owner that he was looking for something to rent, but he said price is no object.
• 14:36
  SPEAKER_00: So by this time, obviously, we can tell with the private jet and the chauffeurs and the price is no object comment that he definitely has money.
• 14:44
  SPEAKER_00: So who's with me here?
• 14:46
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, who wants to be him?
• 14:49
  SPEAKER_00: I don't fly in private jets, but he's not telling the people of Theo this.
• 14:52
  SPEAKER_00: So, you know, he's only the reader knows these things.
• 14:56
  SPEAKER_00: Tony advises Theo of a house nearby he might be able to rent called Ponder House.
• 15:02
  SPEAKER_00: In the middle of everything, since Theo's starting to love the city, he also meets Simon.
• 15:09
  SPEAKER_00: He meets Simon, the cello player at the bookstore.
• 15:12
  SPEAKER_00: And so what plays the cello.
• 15:15
  SPEAKER_00: He plays a cello.
• 15:17
  SPEAKER_00: Isn't that a cello?
• 15:19
  SPEAKER_00: I call it a cello.
• 15:20
  SPEAKER_00: Is it cello or cello?
• 15:21
  SPEAKER_00: Oh no, we're gonna have to go back and check that one.
• 15:24
  SPEAKER_00: I'm gonna have to look that up.
• 15:25
  SPEAKER_00: Hey readers, let me know.
• 15:26
  SPEAKER_00: Is it cello or cello?
• 15:28
  SPEAKER_00: Besties.
• 15:30
  SPEAKER_00: We need to hear.
• 15:34
  SPEAKER_01: Okay.
• 15:34
  SPEAKER_01: Um is a cello a wind instrument or string.
• 15:42
  SPEAKER_00: Oh my gosh.
• 15:44
  SPEAKER_00: You're gonna hear that word more than once from me, too.
• 15:46
  SPEAKER_00: So that's fine.
• 15:48
  SPEAKER_01: We'll go with it.
• 15:50
  SPEAKER_00: Theo is making many friends and they all seem to admire him.
• 15:53
  SPEAKER_00: When Theo leaves the bookstore to check on renting Ponder House, he thinks his plan is going beautifully.
• 16:00
  SPEAKER_00: But I'm thinking, what plan?
• 16:03
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, why is he there?
• 16:04
  SPEAKER_00: I'm still thinking this.
• 16:05
  SPEAKER_00: It turns out.
• 16:06
  SPEAKER_01: Well, obviously, he has some kind of motive or some reason, or I mean Exactly, which is what kept me going the first time.
• 16:14
  SPEAKER_00: But again, I was missing so much heartfelt stories along the way because I was just like, why, why, why, why?
• 16:21
  SPEAKER_00: And I think this book requires patience.
• 16:24
  SPEAKER_00: It does, it requires patience and a cup of tea.
• 16:28
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 16:30
  SPEAKER_00: So, anyways, it turns out James Ponder, the owner of Ponder House, is a broker and a consultant.
• 16:39
  SPEAKER_00: Of course, he is resistant to rent Ponder House, but Theo charms him into letting him rent it.
• 16:45
  SPEAKER_00: Not only that, but Theo apparently becomes Mr.
• 16:47
  SPEAKER_00: Ponder's client and finally told his story, the true story, the whole story to Mr.
• 16:52
  SPEAKER_00: Ponder.
• 16:52
  SPEAKER_00: Of course, us readers, we don't find out.
• 16:55
  SPEAKER_00: And he tells him the reason he's in golden.
• 16:58
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, like well, I mean, unfortunately, I'm like, come on, is it just me, Kim?
• 17:03
  SPEAKER_00: But I'm dying to know why he's there, and now Mr.
• 17:05
  SPEAKER_00: Ponder knows, but we don't.
• 17:07
  SPEAKER_01: So sometimes the reader's the last one to know who's done it.
• 17:11
  SPEAKER_00: And we sure are because this doesn't come to the very end.
• 17:15
  SPEAKER_00: Meanwhile, Theo bought all the portraits, and Mr.
• 17:19
  SPEAKER_00: Ponder's assistant, Mrs.
• 17:20
  SPEAKER_00: Giddley, was helping by finding all the addresses.
• 17:24
  SPEAKER_00: Mrs.
• 17:24
  SPEAKER_00: Gidley's also an interesting character.
• 17:26
  SPEAKER_00: She's been working for Mr.
• 17:28
  SPEAKER_00: Ponder for over 40 years and is somewhat of a guardian angel to the Ponder House of Sorts.
• 17:33
  SPEAKER_00: She's the only person so far that does not trust Theo and thinks he is a con man.
• 17:38
  SPEAKER_00: She doesn't trust a stranger giving away portraits.
• 17:40
  SPEAKER_00: Spoiler alert, she also eventually warms up to him.
• 17:43
  SPEAKER_00: It's an interesting plot twist, though, in my opinion, and I wonder if it was to get the reader to have maybe a little bit of a lack of trust in Theo, because we still don't know what his intent is and why he's there.
• 17:54
  SPEAKER_01: I think that's a really good point.
• 17:56
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, yeah, it's kind of like one of those, what do they call that, like a hidden Easter egg or an egg story?
• 18:03
  SPEAKER_01: Like, ha ha, there's one person who maybe, you know, sometimes you're supposed to listen to your gut instinct.
• 18:09
  SPEAKER_01: Maybe Mrs.
• 18:10
  SPEAKER_01: Gidley was listening to her gut instinct.
• 18:13
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I mean, it turns out she was just a cranky old lady, but you know.
• 18:19
  unknown: Give her the benefit.
• 18:21
  SPEAKER_00: Come on.
• 18:22
  SPEAKER_00: She comes around.
• 18:23
  SPEAKER_00: But I really thought at that time, though, that maybe everybody loves him and there's and maybe they shouldn't be, you know.
• 18:29
  SPEAKER_00: So me, I'm still, you know, back in my psychological thriller phase, true crime documentary, thinking, oh defense.
• 18:37
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, he's there for a bad reason, but he's not.
• 18:40
  SPEAKER_00: As time goes on, Theo continues to bestow the portraits to the rightful owners.
• 18:44
  SPEAKER_00: I won't get into every character because there's so many, and it's such a mix of interesting people.
• 18:50
  SPEAKER_00: He's starting to get quite the list of acquaintances and golden, if not friends.
• 18:55
  SPEAKER_00: People, for the most part, are all very friendly with interesting little stories and dreams to tell.
• 19:00
  SPEAKER_00: I find this part of the book so charming, and Theo's charity and kindness is admirable.
• 19:06
  SPEAKER_00: But this book was definitely, even at this point, a very slow, what you call it, like a slow burn for me.
• 19:12
  SPEAKER_00: We still don't know why he's there.
• 19:14
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm I can't stop going over this.
• 19:17
  SPEAKER_00: That's why I had to read it a second time to really enjoy all these nuances and characters.
• 19:22
  SPEAKER_00: And I think it's just me, Kim.
• 19:24
  SPEAKER_00: I really do.
• 19:25
  SPEAKER_00: Because most people only had to read this book once, you know.
• 19:30
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, but I also think that I mean you work all day long and then plus you work long hours.
• 19:37
  SPEAKER_01: And I think that if you really make time for yourself, and I know that it's hard at your house with everything going on, the roofers and stuff, and you know, trying to get peace and quiet.
• 19:48
  SPEAKER_01: So I I think that you just gotta carve out time and and quiet time, and maybe you found it the second time around.
• 19:55
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, I sure did because I just fell in love with this book.
• 19:58
  SPEAKER_00: Now we're all the way up to chapter 17, we're getting there.
• 20:02
  SPEAKER_00: It's only 60 some chapters in here.
• 20:04
  SPEAKER_00: Don't worry, I won't go over them all.
• 20:07
  SPEAKER_00: But we start to begin a little bit about Theo's life in this chapter.
• 20:11
  SPEAKER_00: Very little, but a little.
• 20:12
  SPEAKER_00: Theo lost a 10-year-old daughter named Tita when he was younger.
• 20:16
  SPEAKER_00: He explains that she was a product of a loveless marriage and the brightest spot in his life.
• 20:22
  SPEAKER_00: She made him look at work differently and want to be home more.
• 20:25
  SPEAKER_00: Sadly, his wife was an alcoholic and they were both killed in an automobile accident when Tito was 10.
• 20:32
  SPEAKER_00: The book eloquently describes his grieving process and how he slowly comes back to himself.
• 20:39
  SPEAKER_00: I was wondering, Tim, how do you think this changed Theo's outlook on life when he lost his beloved daughter and you know he grieved so hard?
• 20:48
  SPEAKER_00: How do you think this affected his philanthropic oh my god philanthropy?
• 20:54
  SPEAKER_00: Philanthropic nature.
• 20:56
  SPEAKER_00: Oh my gosh.
• 20:58
  SPEAKER_00: Philanthrop, philanthropic nature.
• 21:04
  SPEAKER_01: His philanthropy.
• 21:06
  SPEAKER_01: Um, I think that everybody grieves differently, but no matter how anybody grieves, it opens up their eyes to something else, um, something deeper, something more meaningful to them.
• 21:19
  SPEAKER_01: And for him to lose a daughter, which was the love of his life, I think that just could either do one of two things, close his heart up completely, or open his heart up all the way to everybody.
• 21:36
  SPEAKER_00: I agree, and I I think that it definitely opened his heart.
• 21:39
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, it wasn't easy, and he's he's still probably dealing with it even at age 86, but I do think it really opened his heart.
• 21:48
  SPEAKER_00: So now we're back to current day.
• 21:50
  SPEAKER_00: Theo inevitably eventually bumps into Asher, the artist.
• 21:54
  SPEAKER_00: A friendship forms with him and Asher.
• 21:57
  SPEAKER_00: Asher later remarks that Theo listened in a way that Made one dangerously willing to talk.
• 22:03
  SPEAKER_00: One of Theo's business partners once described this as Theo's superpower.
• 22:07
  SPEAKER_00: I imagine this was partly why Theo was such a successful businessman.
• 22:12
  SPEAKER_00: Theo does ask Asher an interesting question.
• 22:16
  SPEAKER_00: This is actually one of my favorite parts of the book.
• 22:18
  SPEAKER_00: What makes something good art?
• 22:21
  SPEAKER_00: I personally feel it's good art if it invokes feelings or emotions or you're moved by it somehow.
• 22:27
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, what's the old adage?
• 22:29
  SPEAKER_00: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
• 22:31
  SPEAKER_00: But Kim, what do you think makes good art?
• 22:34
  SPEAKER_01: Well, you took that old adage, which you know I was I was reaching for.
• 22:40
  SPEAKER_01: I think it's art that means something to you, whether it's the color, the shape, the tone, the intensity, it all has to speak to you in some kind of way.
• 22:52
  SPEAKER_00: I totally agree, Kim.
• 22:53
  SPEAKER_00: And Theo gives a beautiful answer to what he thinks.
• 22:56
  SPEAKER_01: It wasn't mine, was it?
• 22:58
  SPEAKER_00: No, it wasn't either of ours.
• 23:00
  SPEAKER_00: But here's the thing: if you haven't read the book, this part's worth looking up.
• 23:04
  SPEAKER_00: I'm not going to give this answer.
• 23:06
  SPEAKER_00: But it was beautiful.
• 23:08
  SPEAKER_01: Some spoiler, you are.
• 23:09
  unknown: Yeah.
• 23:10
  SPEAKER_00: Well, we can't give everything away.
• 23:12
  SPEAKER_01: Okay.
• 23:13
  SPEAKER_00: I find it interesting that almost midway through the book, Theo has not given up anything about himself to anybody inquiring, but he has learned so much about the people of Golden.
• 23:23
  SPEAKER_00: By this time, I'm assuming he has connections to Golden, and I'm wondering if it has to do with his long-lost love.
• 23:28
  SPEAKER_00: How about you, Kim?
• 23:29
  SPEAKER_00: Any thoughts on that?
• 23:31
  SPEAKER_01: I would say deep down inside, something attracted him to Golden, whether it was a place that you know his long-lost love suggested they go to, or maybe a place his daughter wanted to go to, or something of that nature is pulling him there.
• 23:49
  SPEAKER_01: What it is, I don't know.
• 23:51
  SPEAKER_00: Nope, that's the big question.
• 23:54
  SPEAKER_00: And even his sole credit card that he uses is in the name of an LTD.
• 23:59
  SPEAKER_00: He doesn't give his last name.
• 24:01
  SPEAKER_00: I found that very interesting.
• 24:03
  SPEAKER_00: The book states that as time went on, people cared less and less about his last name, and curiosity started to dry up.
• 24:09
  SPEAKER_00: Living at Ponder House gave him credibility with the town people because they respected Mr.
• 24:14
  SPEAKER_00: Ponder, and the town just accepted Theo as an average law-abiding citizen, only older and better, or so they thought, according to the book.
• 24:22
  SPEAKER_00: Now, funny, that part of the book led me to believe wait, is he not a law-abiding citizen?
• 24:26
  SPEAKER_01: You know, but some history behind him with the feds.
• 24:31
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 24:32
  SPEAKER_00: Now, I would like to touch upon all the portrait giving at this point.
• 24:35
  SPEAKER_00: Theo's enjoying meeting all the people and giving the portraits.
• 24:38
  SPEAKER_00: He's telling everyone who receives a portrait something positive and good about themselves.
• 24:44
  SPEAKER_00: How do you feel about this major theme in how they portray Theo's character?
• 24:51
  SPEAKER_00: As I mean, as a reader, I almost forgot my curiosity also about who he was because I was starting to like him so much as a character that I was like, oh yeah, I don't really care who he is either, because these stories are so interesting that he's able to bring forward from all the interesting people he's um meeting.
• 25:10
  SPEAKER_01: But you know what I think?
• 25:11
  SPEAKER_01: It's not just um all the interesting people that he's meeting.
• 25:14
  SPEAKER_01: I think that his kindness, because it's genuine, is rubbing off on people because it seems like after they talk to him, they feel good about themselves.
• 25:25
  SPEAKER_00: I absolutely agree.
• 25:26
  SPEAKER_00: And I think it's starting to spread through the town.
• 25:28
  SPEAKER_00: Not that the town's not a kind town, but I feel like his kindness is being infused.
• 25:34
  SPEAKER_00: Yes.
• 25:35
  SPEAKER_00: And it's and also I want to say that not all these stories are happy that people are sharing.
• 25:42
  SPEAKER_00: Some of them are just sad.
• 25:44
  SPEAKER_00: They're heartbroken people, some of them, but they're still telling their story helps them somehow, and they always get something positive back from Theo, something good about themselves.
• 25:54
  SPEAKER_00: So it's really one of my favorite parts of the book.
• 26:00
  SPEAKER_00: And one of my favorite characters that Theo graced a portrait with was Basil, the musician.
• 26:06
  SPEAKER_00: He got his degree in English to become a teacher because he read an essay about an English teacher.
• 26:10
  SPEAKER_00: And whenever somebody asked that teacher about his job, he would say he taught magic, and that he taught his students that words and books were like magic.
• 26:18
  SPEAKER_00: And that's exactly how I feel about books, and even this book.
• 26:21
  SPEAKER_00: It sort of holds you in a spell.
• 26:23
  SPEAKER_00: Did you have a favorite character, Kim, in the book of all the people you met?
• 26:29
  SPEAKER_00: Or even him?
• 26:30
  SPEAKER_01: He met uh well, obviously him, but one of the people in the book, I forget the lady's name who rode the bicycle.
• 26:37
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, Ellen.
• 26:37
  SPEAKER_01: I love it.
• 26:38
  SPEAKER_01: Ellen, yes, because she was a bit odd.
• 26:41
  SPEAKER_01: She was homeless, and I just I just love how he respected her, and she did her best to look, you know, good for him.
• 26:51
  SPEAKER_01: And I mean, obviously, it was she respected him back, yes.
• 26:55
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, and he respected her.
• 26:57
  SPEAKER_01: And I mean, the respect that he gave to her, it's just it warmed my heart.
• 27:04
  SPEAKER_00: Now, this is not to say that everything was perfect with each bestow, and there were a few difficult people along the way, as is to be expected, and I'm sure you'll all remember them from reading it.
• 27:16
  SPEAKER_00: One of my favorite parts on a happier note, though, is the unhoused lady that Kim just mentioned, named Ellen.
• 27:23
  SPEAKER_00: She invited Theo for a bike ride, and she made the shop owner put student driver on the bike.
• 27:29
  SPEAKER_00: And I laughed so hard at this part.
• 27:31
  SPEAKER_00: And I hope you all enjoyed this part too.
• 27:34
  SPEAKER_00: Because Theo even chuckled and he didn't mind.
• 27:36
  SPEAKER_00: He rode with that sign student driver, and she made him, she just didn't want him to get hurt, and she made him take like a couple laps around the parking lot before he was allowed to take the bike out.
• 27:48
  SPEAKER_00: And she wanted the owner to put lights on it, flashing lights too.
• 27:52
  SPEAKER_00: And the owner said, Oh, I think we're okay.
• 27:54
  SPEAKER_00: If it was at night, he could use the flashing lights, but during the day, he's like, I think you guys will be safe.
• 27:59
  SPEAKER_00: So it was really sweet how he she was trying to take care of him and uh show him like she's responsible that she's gonna take charge of that.
• 28:07
  SPEAKER_01: That's exactly that she'll take care of him and he's gonna be.
• 28:10
  SPEAKER_00: I thought that was so good.
• 28:12
  SPEAKER_01: She's such a great character.
• 28:14
  SPEAKER_00: And now, moving on all the way to chapter 48.
• 28:18
  SPEAKER_00: Theo's invited to Asher Glisson's house for Thanksgiving, who, if you remember, is the artist for with his family and friends, and Theo accepts happily.
• 28:28
  SPEAKER_00: And now we're about 75% through with this book, and we still know very little about Theo, and that's gonna be a common thread.
• 28:36
  SPEAKER_00: Um, we know, but here's what we do know we know he lost his daughter, he has an immense self-made fortune, he has a love of art, he has a giving nature, and that he lost the love of his life at some point because she left him because he was young and foolish.
• 28:52
  SPEAKER_00: We learned that also, and that he also lost his his daughter, and I think I might have said that.
• 28:57
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I said that, but I didn't, I don't think we went over the part about him losing the love of his life, and he did at some point.
• 29:05
  SPEAKER_00: So, still a lot of mystery on why he's in golden about 75% through the book, which leads me to that's not what the book was about.
• 29:16
  SPEAKER_00: You know, it's more the journey.
• 29:19
  SPEAKER_00: So let's continue.
• 29:20
  SPEAKER_00: Theo has a wonderful Thanksgiving.
• 29:22
  SPEAKER_00: He learns a lot about Asher's mostly wonderful family.
• 29:25
  SPEAKER_00: I think that's enough to note right there, actually.
• 29:28
  SPEAKER_00: So we're gonna jump to Christmas.
• 29:30
  SPEAKER_00: During Christmas and New Year, Theo had to go back to New York to attend to business, but he left gifts to be distributed to all his friends.
• 29:37
  SPEAKER_00: Very thoughtful gifts with handwritten notes.
• 29:39
  SPEAKER_00: It made him so happy to think of them opening them on Christmas Day.
• 29:43
  SPEAKER_00: You know, I also feel this way about giving gifts.
• 29:45
  SPEAKER_00: It's it's almost selfish in a way how much I love to give a present away.
• 29:49
  SPEAKER_00: And Kim, I remember you saying how much you love to give gifts also.
• 29:53
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, I do.
• 29:55
  SPEAKER_01: I would rather go shopping for other people than myself.
• 29:58
  SPEAKER_01: Um I'm kind of cheap when it comes to myself.
• 30:02
  SPEAKER_00: I know.
• 30:03
  SPEAKER_00: I try to change that, but it's it's I'm working on it really hard.
• 30:08
  SPEAKER_00: So, Theo returns quietly to Golden near the end of January.
• 30:13
  SPEAKER_00: Interestingly, Theo delivers a pile of documents to Mr.
• 30:16
  SPEAKER_00: Ponder for safekeeping.
• 30:18
  SPEAKER_00: Eighty percent done with the book, and we still don't know what brought him to Golden.
• 30:22
  SPEAKER_00: But more interestingly still, is that I really don't care so much anymore.
• 30:26
  SPEAKER_00: Because the journey to this point has been so incredibly beautiful and artfully written.
• 30:30
  SPEAKER_00: The reading is magical and spellbinding, and it's true art.
• 30:36
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, so now it's March, and Theo has been in Golden for a year now.
• 30:39
  SPEAKER_00: He has portraits waiting to be bestowed.
• 30:43
  SPEAKER_00: Well, Besties, things turn bad.
• 30:46
  SPEAKER_00: I can't begin to describe the horror in chapter 57, but I'm gonna try.
• 30:51
  SPEAKER_00: Theo is asleep in his chair facing his balcony.
• 30:54
  SPEAKER_00: Ellen is on a bench by the fountain.
• 30:57
  SPEAKER_00: Three drunk men drunk and rowdy men are coming home from the bars.
• 31:04
  SPEAKER_00: They decide to steal Ellen's hat as a prank.
• 31:06
  SPEAKER_00: While pulling the hat off, the man pulls her hair and startles her.
• 31:10
  SPEAKER_00: She goes ballistic and jumps on his back, clawing at his face.
• 31:14
  SPEAKER_00: One of the other friends picks up her bike, she calls it the noble invention, and starts to put it in the fountain.
• 31:21
  SPEAKER_00: She goes even crazier, and the other two hooligans go toward Ellen and try to pry him off the scoundrel.
• 31:31
  SPEAKER_00: And then they beat her so badly that she falls to the ground.
• 31:37
  SPEAKER_00: And the attacker goes to kick Ellen while she's down and almost unconscious.
• 31:42
  SPEAKER_00: When out of nowhere, Simon charges the man.
• 31:45
  SPEAKER_00: Remember Simon with the cello?
• 31:47
  SPEAKER_00: He still has his cello on his back.
• 31:52
  SPEAKER_00: Cello.
• 31:54
  SPEAKER_00: The wind instrument.
• 31:56
  SPEAKER_00: The three drunken attackers turn on Simon to beat him.
• 32:00
  SPEAKER_00: They crush and break his hand, beat him up, and throw him in the fountain.
• 32:04
  SPEAKER_00: Meanwhile, Theo wakes up and hears the noises.
• 32:07
  SPEAKER_00: He looks out and sees the bicycle laying awry and Ellen on the ground.
• 32:11
  SPEAKER_00: He sees the end of Simon's beating and the breaking of his cello.
• 32:17
  SPEAKER_00: He's shocked and muttering no, no, no, while leaning dangerously over the balcony.
• 32:22
  SPEAKER_00: The attackers leave and Simon crawls out of the fountain.
• 32:25
  SPEAKER_00: Simon finds two people walking by Ponder House and goes to them to hopefully use their phone since Ellen is very obviously critically injured.
• 32:33
  SPEAKER_00: The couple are in shock, and rightly so, because in front of them lays Theo's bleeding, lifeless body.
• 32:40
  SPEAKER_00: I almost want to take a moment here because this touched me so much when I read it in the book, I couldn't believe he was gone.
• 32:47
  SPEAKER_00: At 86, he was such a healthy young spry, 80 s young 86-year-old, as Minette put it, and it was such a terrible act of cruelty to Ellen, the unhoused woman, and Simon and Simon's cello was destroyed, and it was just all so sad.
• 33:08
  SPEAKER_00: And then to have Theo die like that suddenly, all of a sudden, it just took my breath away.
• 33:15
  SPEAKER_00: So three days after Theo's death, on the front of a prestigious New York newspaper where the headlines, renowned artist dies and fall, reclusive genius leaves behind a prized collection.
• 33:28
  SPEAKER_00: We now know Theo's full name.
• 33:31
  SPEAKER_00: Excuse me if I don't pronounce it right.
• 33:33
  SPEAKER_00: It's Gomez Theopolis Xyloviz, known as Xyla.
• 33:39
  SPEAKER_00: His career spanned six decades, and he belonged to a prolific group of 20th century artists whose work made record-breaking sales in the latter half of the century.
• 33:48
  SPEAKER_00: His work was in collections in famous galleries all over the world, and the mystery is gone.
• 33:53
  SPEAKER_00: But there's still a little more mystery left.
• 33:55
  SPEAKER_00: It turns out that all those papers Theo was leaving with Mr.
• 33:59
  SPEAKER_00: Ponder were instructions on how to divvy up his estate.
• 34:06
  SPEAKER_00: Some of them were, anyways.
• 34:08
  SPEAKER_00: We we don't really ever find out everything, but we do find out that Asher the artist is Theo's son.
• 34:17
  SPEAKER_02: Okay.
• 34:18
  SPEAKER_00: And so the love of his life, who left him suddenly, went home and married right away, and had Asher, which is Theo's son.
• 34:31
  SPEAKER_00: And she wrote Theo a letter when Asher was six years old, and she did tell him about Asher, but she begged him not to contact her or her family.
• 34:42
  SPEAKER_00: But it was also included a letter from Asher when he was a young child because he wanted to be an artist, and Xyla was one of his favorite artists.
• 34:53
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, yeah.
• 34:54
  SPEAKER_00: He had many favorite artists, but Xyla was among them.
• 34:56
  SPEAKER_00: And he wrote to several of the artists, but only a few wrote back.
• 35:00
  SPEAKER_00: And Theo was one of the artists that wrote a letter back, and he had it framed in his studio.
• 35:09
  SPEAKER_00: And Theo saw that when he was visiting with Asher.
• 35:12
  SPEAKER_00: Asher and and Theo got very close.
• 35:14
  SPEAKER_00: And I have to believe that Theo was going to eventually tell Asher the story, but he was just working his way up to it.
• 35:21
  SPEAKER_00: I sometimes wait for the right time.
• 35:23
  SPEAKER_00: I I you know, I sometimes wish, I mean, it had to be shocking to Asher because Asher thought his father was somebody else, but everybody was so fond of Theo and everybody loved Theo so much that it was just heartbreaking.
• 35:41
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, they had a memorial for him that was absolutely beautiful.
• 35:45
  SPEAKER_00: If you didn't read the book, it's it's a beautiful thing to read.
• 35:48
  SPEAKER_00: Every the the whole town came together for it.
• 35:51
  SPEAKER_00: And it's the funny thing is, nobody everybody was shocked that he was this famous artist, but to them, he was just Theo.
• 35:58
  SPEAKER_00: He was just the nicest person, the kind man, yes.
• 36:03
  SPEAKER_00: And Theo left a huge art gallery of portraits to Asher, his son.
• 36:11
  SPEAKER_00: And he he just left he left a legacy though, a legacy of love is what he left.
• 36:19
  SPEAKER_00: And it was a beautiful story.
• 36:21
  SPEAKER_00: I loved reading it, I loved everything about it.
• 36:26
  SPEAKER_00: I would highly recommend this book.
• 36:28
  SPEAKER_00: So when I rate this book, I give it five popcorns.
• 36:32
  SPEAKER_00: Five out of five.
• 36:34
  SPEAKER_00: How about you, Kim?
• 36:35
  SPEAKER_00: How do you feel about the book?
• 36:36
  SPEAKER_01: I would definitely agree.
• 36:38
  SPEAKER_01: I would definitely give it five out of five because even though I really do like the psychological thrillers and haha, they got the guy or trying to figure out why people did what they did.
• 36:49
  SPEAKER_01: I also like books that are beautiful, are that are, you know, they're not out to destroy anybody or criticize anybody, but just after reading it makes me feel like a I could be a better person.
• 37:05
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, it was definitely an inspiring book.
• 37:08
  SPEAKER_01: So let me ask you this, Wendy.
• 37:10
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, you read more books than anybody I know personally, and you've been reading books for a long, long, long time, and you've encouraged me to read, and I'm on this with you.
• 37:20
  SPEAKER_01: But would you read this book, say, four or five years from now, if you if you came across it in your library and said, Oh, yeah, I kind of remember this.
• 37:31
  SPEAKER_01: Let me read it again.
• 37:33
  SPEAKER_00: Here's the thing.
• 37:34
  SPEAKER_00: I rarely read a book a second time, rarely, because there's so many new ones out there that I want to read, want to read, want to read.
• 37:41
  SPEAKER_00: I there's there are a few books I would read a second time.
• 37:44
  SPEAKER_00: This is one of the well, I read it a second time, but would I read it again in five or six years?
• 37:49
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, I would.
• 37:50
  SPEAKER_00: I think the book is timeless and it's gonna stand the test of time.
• 37:53
  SPEAKER_00: I also have a couple other books that I I feel like I would read again, but we'll get into that at another time.
• 37:58
  SPEAKER_00: How about Kim?
• 37:59
  SPEAKER_00: Do you think this book will be made into a movie?
• 38:02
  SPEAKER_01: Oh god, yeah.
• 38:03
  SPEAKER_01: And Anne Hathaway is gonna play the part somewhere.
• 38:05
  SPEAKER_00: She's been yeah, we were joking.
• 38:07
  SPEAKER_00: She's been in every movie lately, but she every book that we've read.
• 38:11
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, yeah.
• 38:13
  SPEAKER_00: She would make a great unhoused person.
• 38:14
  SPEAKER_00: She'd make a great Ellen, to be honest.
• 38:16
  SPEAKER_00: You think so?
• 38:17
  SPEAKER_00: I do.
• 38:18
  SPEAKER_00: I think she'd make a great Ellen.
• 38:19
  SPEAKER_00: Or Manette, the um the Manette.
• 38:22
  SPEAKER_00: Manette happened to be related to Asher, so Minette was also related to That was really called Yeah, Theo's The Love of Theo's life.
• 38:30
  SPEAKER_00: And I think that's what he saw in her eyes when he bought that portrait.
• 38:34
  SPEAKER_00: I think that's why, you know, we were like, hey, why'd he pick this one first?
• 38:38
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, now we know at the end he I think he saw the love of his life's eyes in that portrait.
• 38:43
  SPEAKER_00: And I I think they also uh described that, you know, their summer that the summer that he spent with the love of his life, and that was also beautiful.
• 38:51
  SPEAKER_00: Everything about this story was so beautifully told.
• 38:54
  SPEAKER_00: And I don't know much about this author.
• 38:56
  SPEAKER_01: Do you know um I just started to really look him up?
• 38:59
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, he's been interviewed by Oprah Winfrey, he's been interviewed by other authors, they all say tremendous things about him.
• 39:06
  SPEAKER_01: I heard him talking on a talk show, and he said that he almost didn't write this book.
• 39:13
  SPEAKER_01: Finish it.
• 39:14
  SPEAKER_01: He's a lawyer, and it was his friend that coaxed him on.
• 39:19
  SPEAKER_01: And so when he finished it, he just, you know, he had no deadlines, he had no timeline.
• 39:24
  SPEAKER_01: He just, you know, he said, Well, you know, I'm 70 years old.
• 39:27
  SPEAKER_01: It's kind of late in the game to be wanting to be a writer.
• 39:30
  SPEAKER_01: But, anyways, thank goodness for all of us that he did submit this book.
• 39:34
  SPEAKER_01: It got published, and um, I forget the name of the company that picked it up, Schusler and oh gosh.
• 39:41
  SPEAKER_00: Simon and Schuster?
• 39:42
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, they're the ones that picked it up and really marketed it and boom, New York um number one.
• 39:51
  SPEAKER_00: Well, I wonder, do you think the movie would do it justice?
• 39:55
  SPEAKER_01: No, no, I don't either.
• 39:58
  SPEAKER_00: I think this is one that has to be read.
• 40:00
  SPEAKER_00: I really do.
• 40:01
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, when I was listening to it and talking to other people about it when I was doing the audio, everyone was saying, Oh, I bet you Tom Hanks can really do it justice.
• 40:11
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, I pictured Tom Hanks every time Theo talked.
• 40:15
  SPEAKER_00: I think he would do it.
• 40:16
  SPEAKER_00: I think Tom Hanks would definitely do Theo justice.
• 40:19
  SPEAKER_00: I would love to hear about what everybody else thinks and if they think it should be a movie and if they think who they think should play the parts.
• 40:26
  SPEAKER_00: I would definitely see it though.
• 40:27
  SPEAKER_00: Definitely we would do a recap of that movie for sure.
• 40:30
  SPEAKER_00: I really hope someone picks it up.
• 40:32
  SPEAKER_00: Even though I don't feel the movie, I don't think the movie would do it.
• 40:37
  SPEAKER_00: What did Rip say?
• 40:39
  SPEAKER_00: Oh my dad.
• 40:43
  SPEAKER_01: I think she says, I agree, mom, I agree.
• 40:45
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, he has so much patience sitting in here for so long.
• 40:49
  SPEAKER_00: Oh but he doesn't want to he doesn't want to be in the other room without me, so he's stuck in here with me, poor little girl.
• 40:54
  SPEAKER_01: Well, you just gotta interview.
• 40:59
  SPEAKER_01: And right on cue.
• 41:00
  SPEAKER_01: Uh no, I think it's a beautiful book.
• 41:04
  SPEAKER_01: I'm so glad that you re that you recapped it.
• 41:07
  SPEAKER_01: Um, I've got to reread it because the audio did not do it justice.
• 41:11
  SPEAKER_01: Even though I thought it did, I really like the guy's voice at first.
• 41:14
  SPEAKER_01: But then when the narrator was playing all the parts, it was it, I I got lost in it, to be honest with you.
• 41:21
  SPEAKER_01: So I think reading the book is really gonna help me.
• 41:24
  SPEAKER_00: Well, we're both really busy people, and um, just as most of you are, I'm sure.
• 41:28
  SPEAKER_00: And sometimes when you're listening to audio, you start doing something else and it sort of loses something.
• 41:34
  SPEAKER_00: You know, you start thinking about other things or you're busy with other things.
• 41:38
  SPEAKER_00: I'm sorry about Rip.
• 41:41
  SPEAKER_00: He's had enough, so we're gonna have to start um saying our goodbyes in a little bit.
• 41:47
  SPEAKER_00: Because my poor dog's gonna go outside to have some fun.
• 41:53
  SPEAKER_01: Okay.
• 41:54
  SPEAKER_01: Well, I would like to thank everybody for joining us on Books and Box Office Besties here.
• 42:00
  SPEAKER_01: And we are gonna be doing this once a week, and we would like to hear from you and give us some ideas about what books that you like out there.
• 42:07
  SPEAKER_01: That is the Diamond and the Rough.
• 42:09
  SPEAKER_01: Maybe something that hasn't made the number one on New York Times, but is a great book to read.
• 42:16
  SPEAKER_01: So please let us know.
• 42:17
  SPEAKER_01: And thank you for listening to us.
• 42:21
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, thank you, everybody.
• 42:22
  SPEAKER_00: And uh just so you know, you can find us at Books and Box Office Besties on Instagram and Facebook.
• 42:28
  SPEAKER_00: And our email is now finally up and running too.
• 42:30
  SPEAKER_00: Uh and that's at books and box office besties at gmail.com.
• 42:34
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you, everyone.
• 42:35
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you, Kim.
• 42:37
  SPEAKER_02: Okay.