{"product_id":"the-bookmonger-society-september-23rd-night-one","title":"The Bookmonger Society September 29th:  Night One","description":"\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeptember Bookmonger Society Pick: \u003cem\u003eTheo of Golden\u003c\/em\u003e by Allen Levi\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eA stranger in a small Southern town. A wall of portraits. The gentlest book you'll read all year.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr class=\"border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEvent Description\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eLook, we've had a year of it. We've trauma-bonded our way through \u003cem\u003eJohn of John\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eWild Dark Shore\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eBroken Country\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe Names\u003c\/em\u003e, and we've come out the other side closer, wiser, and slightly in need of a cuddle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eSo this month, we're doing something different. We're giving you the warm hug you've earned.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eTheo of Golden\u003c\/em\u003e is the book everyone's been quietly pressing into everyone else's hands, and once you've read it you'll understand why. It's the reading equivalent of the good chair by the fire: a cup of tea someone else made, and a soft blanket over your knees.  Gentle, quietly funny and unashamedly kind, and yes, it will still make you cry, just in the nice way this time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eJoin us for one of two evenings of great discussion, wine, charcuterie and community. No emotional damage this time, we promise.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e🗓️ Tuesday 29, September | 7:30 p.m.\u003cbr\u003e🗓️ Wednesday, 30 September | 7:30 p.m.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr class=\"border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Book\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eOne spring morning, a stranger arrives in the small Southern city of Golden. Mr. Theo is elderly, courteous and entirely unexplained. He takes a room, walks the riverbank, and begins quietly buying pencil portraits from the wall of a local coffeehouse.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThen he starts giving them away, returning each portrait to the person in it, asking nothing in return but their story.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eWhat follows is a year in the life of a town: a bookseller, a barista, an artist with a secret, a woman living rough by the river, all of them drawn into the orbit of a man whose own reasons for coming to Golden only become clear at the very end.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr class=\"border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout Allen Levi\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eAllen Levi is a lawyer-turned-singer-songwriter from Hamilton, Georgia, who wrote his first novel in his late sixties. The idea found him in a coffeehouse where 92 pencil portraits of local people hung on the wall. He bought four of them, and started wondering.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThree and a half years later, he and his niece self-published the result themselves, hoping to shift a thousand copies. Readers did the rest. It has now sold over a million, hit number one on the \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e bestseller list, and a follow-up, \u003cem\u003eEllen of Golden\u003c\/em\u003e, is on the way.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr class=\"border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePraise for \u003cem\u003eTheo of Golden\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\"\u003cem\u003eTo Kill a Mockingbird\u003c\/em\u003e for this generation.\" — \u003cem\u003eThe Dallas Morning News\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\"A word-of-mouth smash hit.\" — \u003cem\u003eThe New York Times\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\"An emotional and heartwarming tale.\" — \u003cem\u003eUSA Today\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr class=\"border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTicket Options\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e🎟️ \u003cstrong\u003ePaperback Admission — £25\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIncludes a paperback copy of \u003cem\u003eTheo of Golden\u003c\/em\u003e plus full event access.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e🎧 \u003cstrong\u003eAudiobook Admission — £25\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIncludes a Libro.fm credit for \u003cem\u003eTheo of Golden\u003c\/em\u003e plus full event access.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e📚 \u003cstrong\u003eSwap Ticket — £25\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAlready have a copy? Choose the swap option and pop in to select another paperback or audiobook of your choosing instead.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr class=\"border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat's Included\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\" class=\"[li_\u0026amp;]:mb-0 [li_\u0026amp;]:mt-1 [li_\u0026amp;]:gap-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3 print:block print:space-y-1\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eYour choice of paperback, audiobook, or swap book ticket\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eA complimentary Bookmonger charcuterie board to share\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eBook discussion hosted by Caitlyn Payne, owner of The Bookmonger\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eKahoot! trivia with prizes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eWine, soft drinks and beer available to purchase on the night\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr class=\"border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComing Alone?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eMany of our Bookmonger Society members attend solo, and we love that. Our gatherings are friendly, relaxed and welcoming, and we'll help you settle in from the moment you arrive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr class=\"border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRefund Policy\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eDue to the intimate size of our event space, we plan for every member and every seat counts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eIn the rare event that The Bookmonger cancels, refunds will be issued for the admission portion only. The retail value of the book will be deducted, and the book will still be yours to keep.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eTickets are non-refundable and non-transferable to future events. Thank you for your understanding, it helps us keep these evenings running for everyone. Given enough time, we can try to re-sell your ticket.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Bookmonger","offers":[{"title":"Physical Book + Admission","offer_id":60366721614158,"sku":null,"price":25.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"Libro.fm Audiobook + Admission","offer_id":60366721646926,"sku":null,"price":25.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"Swap Book + Admission","offer_id":60366721679694,"sku":null,"price":25.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0874\/5795\/6174\/files\/Night_1_Theo_of_Golden.jpg?v=1787739176","url":"https:\/\/thebookmongerbearsden.co.uk\/products\/the-bookmonger-society-september-23rd-night-one","provider":"The Bookmonger","version":"1.0","type":"link"}