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erikars's review against another edition
2.0
I am an avowed atheist, but to discover why I was reading a book about Christian myth makers, you need look no further than the subtitle of the book. Tolkien, L'Engle, MacDonald, and Lewis are all authors I have enjoyed. Although this book looks at them primarily as Christian writers, the discussion of each of those authors writings was enjoyable.
Also enjoyable was Clyde Kilby's forward on the nature of myth. Myth in the writings of these authors is not the low definition of discredited stories. Rather, this book discusses the higher meaning of myth. In the words of Kilby, "Myth is the name of a way of seeing, a way of knowing in depth, a way of experiencing -- a way that in being disinterested contains the freedom of unending and vital interest." Myth is necessary because "Systematizing flattens, but myth rounds out. Systematizing drains away color and life, but myth restores." Any translation of idea into language, reality into system loses some depth. Myth is what recaptures that depth by providing sidelong glimpses of some sensed truth.
Hein makes the assumption that the truth that myth points to is embodied in Christianity -- the Bible presents myth that is also factual truth. This is not a bad assumption in so far as it is what the authors under discussion believed. However, it is an assumption and one that fails to carry its own weight upon further examination.
In the end, this book was a worthwhile read, but the large number of authors surveyed and lack of willingness to examine the basic assumptions Christianity's relationship to myth made it somewhat shallow.
Also enjoyable was Clyde Kilby's forward on the nature of myth. Myth in the writings of these authors is not the low definition of discredited stories. Rather, this book discusses the higher meaning of myth. In the words of Kilby, "Myth is the name of a way of seeing, a way of knowing in depth, a way of experiencing -- a way that in being disinterested contains the freedom of unending and vital interest." Myth is necessary because "Systematizing flattens, but myth rounds out. Systematizing drains away color and life, but myth restores." Any translation of idea into language, reality into system loses some depth. Myth is what recaptures that depth by providing sidelong glimpses of some sensed truth.
Hein makes the assumption that the truth that myth points to is embodied in Christianity -- the Bible presents myth that is also factual truth. This is not a bad assumption in so far as it is what the authors under discussion believed. However, it is an assumption and one that fails to carry its own weight upon further examination.
In the end, this book was a worthwhile read, but the large number of authors surveyed and lack of willingness to examine the basic assumptions Christianity's relationship to myth made it somewhat shallow.
kailey_luminouslibro's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Through the centuries, there have been Christian writers who have captured the essence of mythology to reveal spiritual truths. Their stories spark a new level of awareness in our imaginations and deeply touch our hearts. Through these Christian myths, we understand ourselves and our relationship with God in a new light.
This book explores deep insights about the works of Dante, John Bunyan, George MacDonald, Chesterton, Charles Williams, Tolkien, and C.S. Lewis. There are also shorter explorations of the works of Madeline L'Engle, Hurnard, and a few other more modern writers. It's wonderful to see how each of these authors followed in the footsteps of those who came before.
I loved the writing style in this book! It has all the scholarly research behind it, but the writing itself is powerful and inspiring. It tugs at your heart and lifts your spirit to realms beyond the world we know. It's not just about intellectually understanding the power of myth to kindle our imaginations; it's about experiencing that inner fire and refreshment of spirit.
I really enjoyed that this book continually points to God as the Author of all stories. We create stories and myths because He created us in His image, with the ability to sub-create and imagine and dream.
This book contains spoilers for all the major works of these authors, but each section is clearly marked, so if you don't want to get spoiled, it is easy to skip ahead. However, this book would be best enjoyed by readers who are already familiar with at least some of these famous authors. A major part of the book is spent in analyzing Dante's Divine Comedy, Pilgrim's Progress, The Princess and Curdie, Phantastes and Lilith, The Man Who Was Thursday, The Lord of the Rings, and Lewis' Space Trilogy and Chronicles of Narnia, as well as L'Engle's Wrinkle in Time series. If you are totally unfamiliar with those and other works by the featured authors, you will miss a lot of the insights and shrewd observations in this book.
While reading all about these authors, I got motivated to go back and reread some of their works! I want to read Pilgrim's Progress again for sure. I feel like I will come to each story with a new perspective now.
I especially want to reread Lewis' Till We Have Faces again. The first time I read it, I don't think I really understood a lot of it. But now I will be able to see the nuances and hidden meanings of the mythology in the story!
This book explores deep insights about the works of Dante, John Bunyan, George MacDonald, Chesterton, Charles Williams, Tolkien, and C.S. Lewis. There are also shorter explorations of the works of Madeline L'Engle, Hurnard, and a few other more modern writers. It's wonderful to see how each of these authors followed in the footsteps of those who came before.
I loved the writing style in this book! It has all the scholarly research behind it, but the writing itself is powerful and inspiring. It tugs at your heart and lifts your spirit to realms beyond the world we know. It's not just about intellectually understanding the power of myth to kindle our imaginations; it's about experiencing that inner fire and refreshment of spirit.
I really enjoyed that this book continually points to God as the Author of all stories. We create stories and myths because He created us in His image, with the ability to sub-create and imagine and dream.
This book contains spoilers for all the major works of these authors, but each section is clearly marked, so if you don't want to get spoiled, it is easy to skip ahead. However, this book would be best enjoyed by readers who are already familiar with at least some of these famous authors. A major part of the book is spent in analyzing Dante's Divine Comedy, Pilgrim's Progress, The Princess and Curdie, Phantastes and Lilith, The Man Who Was Thursday, The Lord of the Rings, and Lewis' Space Trilogy and Chronicles of Narnia, as well as L'Engle's Wrinkle in Time series. If you are totally unfamiliar with those and other works by the featured authors, you will miss a lot of the insights and shrewd observations in this book.
While reading all about these authors, I got motivated to go back and reread some of their works! I want to read Pilgrim's Progress again for sure. I feel like I will come to each story with a new perspective now.
I especially want to reread Lewis' Till We Have Faces again. The first time I read it, I don't think I really understood a lot of it. But now I will be able to see the nuances and hidden meanings of the mythology in the story!
kahale's review against another edition
5.0
The author compares and contrasts the works of Bunyan's Pilgrims Progress and authors such as C.S. Lewis, Tolkien and George McDonald. Illustrates the difference between myth, fairy and folk tales and how these authors related them to their Christian faith.
lara_lleverino's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of those books that you read and then have 50+ new books to read.
marysee's review
4.0
“The imagination in its highest reaches must have myth; it is a bridge that spans the gap between man and the eternal.”
oliviacornwell's review against another edition
4.0
Not quite what I expected (though I'm not sure what exactly I did expect), but this is an interesting read. It essentially examines these authors and several of their works, and how they've woven faith into fantasy/myth. I was a little confused by their definition of myth (the foreword, I'm afraid was lost on me and I'm not sure what I read there XD), but it was neat to see, in particular, the works of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, since those were basically the only authors whose books I remember well (I've read McDonald, but that was years ago and I remember little), and seeing how their faith and ideas were tucked smoothly into their stories. Like Tolkien's The Silmarillion or Lewis' Space Trilogy. It was neat to see how their faith was worked into their words.
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