I'm going to say something that might get me in trouble with Tolkien fans: The Lord of the Rings has a best book. Before you come at me, let me clarify that I love all three, and I don't think you can really read one without appreciating what others bring to the trilogy. However, when I put aside the movies, the nostalgia, and the sheer cultural importance of Middle-earth, I have a favorite. Tolkien's writing visibly changes from book to book, too. The Fellowship of the Ring has that wonderful feeling of discovering Middle-earth for the first time; The Two Towers feels tighter and more urgent; and The Return of the King goes all out with scale and emotion.