Oh cripes. I’ve been mulling this over in the back of my head all day. This is a real puzzler, Nonnie. But thank you so much for asking!

Basically, it comes down to two possibilities:

1. Fave book moment

The Glittering Caves speech, from The Two Towers. This was difficult, as there are SO many moments that make me die/cry/laugh on the inside. I honestly can’t overstate HOW MUCH i love the Scouring of the Shire, for instance… or Merry and Pippin’s greeting at Isengard… or “I liked white better”, or “I go to find the sun!” – or roughly a million different Sam Gamgee moments. But for me this is the most affecting and simply beautiful writing in the whole of the brick. Tolkien doesn’t get lyrical often – his expressive moments either swing more to the “heroic saga” style (see: every speech by Aragorn ever) or to the romantically pastoral. This speech, though – it’s just. glorious, and passionate, full of joy and beauty and awe, and it soars. It is so evocative, and it just soars. 

Also, this speech is the first time we hear of beauty as seen through the eyes of Dwarves, as spoken by a Dwarf – and wouldja look at that, it is the most poetic and graceful prose in the whole dang thing. 😀

I recorded it once, a zillion years ago. 

2. Fave movie moment

Okay, I’m a music twit, everybody knows it. And music was absolutely the thing that stole my vote. It was a damn close race. 

Runner up: Edge of Night (Pippin’s Song)

the juxtaposition of Faramir’s hopeless bravery against this song = I am dead, I am very dead.

WINNER: The Beacons of Minas Tirith

(that tremolo strings motif? yup, it was absolutely the inspiration for the ending ostinato in Light on the Horizon. I want to take off into the sky, soaring into the wild – I want to fly into the goddamned sunrise EVERY SINGLE TIME I HEAR THIS MUSIC)