BOOK REVIEW
Mythmakers
By John Hendrix
Mythmakers tells the tale of two beloved storytellers whose extraordinary fellowship and remarkable imaginations would transform the landscape of fiction forever.
As both writers and readers, J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis found their lives shaped by great tales. In Mythmakers, Hendrix crafts a beautiful and gripping portrayal of two men trying to write the stories they longed to read.
"Each of them, deep in their bones, ached to pass into a new land; to enter a holy portal and experience a world enchanted with life beyond the power of death."
Weaved throughout the narrative are insights into the influences of these writers, including their friendships, their childhoods, their trauma and, importantly, their faith. In one of my favourite chapters, we follow C.S. Lewis on his journey to faith and witness how his friendship with Tolkien impacted his worldview.
In the lives of Lewis and Tolkien we learn that good stories are an echo the Real Story. And that the greatest myths are a lot closer to the Truth than we might think.
"We write myths because our hearts were written by a mythmaker."
This book touches on themes of friendship, grief and especially joy. The kind of fleeting joy that you experience while reading a good book. A joy that you can’t quite name.
"Great myths allow us to slip through the clouds of everyday life and glimpse something divine."
The two narrators guide us from the first page to the last with a touch of humour. The painful ache of the final chapters leave you longing for ‘Chapter One of the Great Story…
"... in which every chapter is better than the one before." (Lewis)
This book was my first graphic novel and it has given me a greater appreciation of the genre. I can’t quite comprehend how much skill goes into the creation of a book like this.
This book is for you if you’re looking for an accessible, engaging biography of Lewis and Tolkien. Or if you’re a fan of the Chronicles of Narnia or the Lord of the Rings, I think you’ll find this book charming.
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