A gentle, beautiful read. At first I thought it might be a bit ‘twee’ – always a risk especially for Christian fiction but the beautiful use of language and well rounded characters drove a completely believable story.
An elderly man arrives in a community and makes friends – it doesn’t sound like a page turner of a plot and it isn’t – until the end. But if you like insightful conversations and are willing to be patient, the relationships, connections and personal stories are authentic and very moving.
I loved this book. It’s about art and beauty and the power of being really seen and really heard. It’s about the gentle miracles that are created by generosity. At first Theo appears to be too good to be true but, of course, Theo has his own ‘back story’… but no plot spoilers in this review.
In my calling I spend a lot of time listening to the complexities of people’s lives and this book pointed me again to the beautiful Benediction of we can all of us bestow by ‘simply’ listening and seeing people through lenses of love and hope. Phrases that will stay with me: ‘Anyone can be a saint’, ‘sadness and joy can be present in your life at the same time’ and that the best portion of a good person’s life is ‘the little nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love’ (but that was the author quoting Wordsworth).
An amazing debut novel.
Live Life Loved 
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