14 June 2011

Top Ten Tuesday



I am friends with the Story Girl, who routinely posts great book reviews. She often participates in The Broke and the Bookish’s Top Ten Tuesday, where they come up with a theme and then list the top ten favorites corresponding with that theme (top ten heroines, top ten relationships, top ten book settings, etc.). I liked thinking about today’s list after seeing the Story Girl’s responses, so I decided to participate.

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday is “Aww” moments in books, any line, scene, or otherwise sentimental moment that made your heart melt a little bit. I may or may not give a few things away, just so you know.


1. The one that came to mind very first is from L. M. Montgomery's Emily Climbs, second in her Emily trilogy. There is a scene where Emily gets locked inside the church at night, and Emily is terrified of a slightly crazy old man who is also in the church, following her around the pews thinking she is his long-dead wife, Annie. She screams for Teddy to save her, and he does—he hears her call even though his house is miles away, and he comes to the church and rescues her.

2. The scene in Gone with the Wind when Rhett tells Melanie that Scarlett's miscarriage is his fault and she doesn't really love him, and Miss Melly comforts him and says that Scarlett loves him more than he knows. She is such a strong and beautiful person, Melanie Hamilton.

3. Can I choose an entire book? The Lover's Dictionary made me feel this way more consistently than maybe any other book I've ever read. See cadence

4. This is more on the sad sentimental side, but the scene in The Power of One after Doc dies and Peekay says goodbye to him in the cave they found together. That was such a beautiful friendship, and it was so sad to see it end.

5. Another powerful relationship, the palpable love between the man and his little boy in Cormac McCarthy's The Road. And the end is just devastating, don't you think? Definitely cried. (If you haven't read it, do.)

6. I think I've read The Luckiest Girl probably two hundred times, but I love it every time. A beautiful little book, and when Shelley finally realizes that she loves Hartley it's just perfect.

7. Another childhood favorite, when Prince Char realizes that Ella isn't married and proposes to her as she's covered in soot by the fireplace in Ella Enchanted

8. My Name Is Asher LevWhen Asher comes to the realization that he must use the crucifix to paint his feelings about his parents and childhood, even though he knows how much it will hurt his Hasidic Jewish family and community. And how much love he pours into those paintings knowing that no one will understand.

9. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe after Aslan dies when Susan and Lucy are so sad and go try to remove the ropes that bind him and the mice come to help. It's such a tender service.

10. Several moments in the Harry Potter series, so I'm listing a few of them as one (is that cheating?). I'm counting them all as one on my summer reading list, so I feel like it should be okay. 
  • The brief happiness Sirius and Harry feel in POA when they think they will live together.
  • The end of OOTP after Sirius dies and Dumbledore tells Harry that it is his fault, not Harry's, because Dumbledore loved Harry too much to tell him the truth from the beginning.
  • Watching Neville grow through all seven books into such an amazing character. Especially in SS when he stands up to Harry, Ron, and Hermione and then wins the house cup for Gryffindor with the points he earns—I will always remember Mrs. Roeding's voice as she read that chapter to us.
  • Dobby's death. Oh, so painful. And Harry's kindness in his burial.
  • And of course, when Harry, Ron, and Hermione finally arrive back at Hogwarts in DH. The whole book felt not quite right until they were back. And then when all the other characters start coming through the tunnel from the Hog's Head? It felt like everyone was coming home, and I sobbed through the rest of the book.
  
What are your top "aww" moments?
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6 comments:

  1. Oh how I loved Doc in The Power of One. I was so sad when he died.

    The Road is one of the most powerful books I've read. I love the hope in it.

    I just finished listening to Ella Enchanted on my iPod for the bazillionth time! My favorite, favorite part is when she breaks the curse and he steals a kiss. I'm sighing as I write this.

    Asher Lev is an all-time favorite. There's nothing like it. Also, I'm set on naming a son Asher.

    I cried when Dobby died. I cried when I read it, and I cried when I watched it.

    I'd tell you about what made me sob at the end of These Is My Words but I don't know if you've read it, and if you haven't you should. Like, today.

    When Minny, Aibleen, and Skeeter compile their book in The Help.

    When Scout takes Boo Radley's hand in To Kill a Mockingbird, because she just knows who he is already.

    Maybe I'll just stop here, because I could keep going. And this comment is already long enough.

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  2. Doby death was so sad. I cried both in the book and the movie.

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  3. The brief happiness Sirius and Harry feel in POA when they think they will live together. - That's one of my favourite moments from the book, and it's one of my favourite books from the series!!

    I had more of a "NOOO" reaction when Dobby died, than "aww"!

    http://peskypiksipesternomi.blogspot.com/2011/06/top-ten-harry-potter-aww-moments_14.html

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  4. Yours is a worthy list. Emotional without being too gooey. As for me, I tweeked "awww" to be moments that give one pause. Here's my Top Ten "Awww" Moments. I hope you'll stop by and see what you think.

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  5. Gawwww love!! That scene in Power of One was perfection. And that Emily Climbs moment (although Teddy's annoying crazy mother kind of ruins the end of it). And amen to the Luckiest Girl and the Lover's Dictionary. Yay I'm glad you did this! :)

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  6. You forget the Jane Austen "aww" moments. Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth, Emma and Mr. Knightley.

    Speaking of books, have you read Unbroken? I think you would enjoy it. It is sad but very good.

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