The two endings of books that always bring tears to my eyes are the ending of Charlotte's Web and the ending of The Lord of the Rings. The tears must be partly because the book is over, but they're also because the ending is so satisfying, so right, le fin just.
Here is the ending of Charlotte's Web:
"It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both."
Humor, affection, and just the right elegiac tone. It always makes me want to be more like Charlotte--a better friend, and a kinder writer.
Here is the ending of The Lord of the Rings:
"And he went on, and there was yellow light, and fire within; and the evening meal was ready, and he was expected. And Rose drew him in, and set him in his chair, and put little Elanor upon his lap.
He drew a deep breath. 'Well, I'm back,' he said."
Everything that Sam longed for and held onto on Mount Doom was there waiting for him, and he had preserved it and created some of it and now he can enjoy all of it. My particular favorite part, of course, is that he named his daughter after the flower of Lorien, the most beautiful name of all.
Tell me if there can be any endings as good as these two out there, anywhere.
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Anywhere? Sure.
"Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
Best ending of all time.
Also, Lloyd telling Diane that everything will be allright when the pilot turns off the no smoking sign in Say Anything.
The funny thing is, as a critic, I know characters only exist between the pages of the book. But these endings let me pretend that the characters are out there, somewhere, and everything turns out all right.
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