Ruler of Books Tag! | Tag Tuesday

Hey hi hello friends, and welcome back to my blog! 

I've got a migraine today so I thought I would just do something a little more relaxed, so today we're doing another tag. Once again, this tag comes from the podcast Books Unbound Podcast (are we even surprised at this point? I love this podcast so much). It's called the Ruler of Books tag, and it was created by Ariel back in 2016. As I was listening to the podcast episode, I found myself really having fun with the questions so why not give my own answers? 

For a little background information: for this tag, we are meant to think that we are the ruler of a kingdom, able to pass laws about whatever we want. Naturally we make laws about books. The prompts are all the laws we are going to pass.

Alright, let's just get into the tag!

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1. What book would you make everyone read? 

Alright, well. I couldn't pick just one book, because how could I? There are so many wonderful books out there that I feel should be required reading. But I narrowed it down to two, for the sake of keeping this tag moving: one fiction, and one nonfiction. 

The fiction book I picked is, of course, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. It's my favorite book of all time, it changed my life, what else can I say? It's funny because this technically was required reading for a college course, but I would absolutely have everyone in my little kingdom read this book. And then I would go around to all the people who have read it for the first time and talk about it with them. That would be so fun! 

For the nonfiction, I picked The Stonewall Reader. This is a collection of essays written by many different people all focused around the Stonewall riots. For those who don't know, in the 1960s there were an uprising of LGBT+ rights protests and riots in response to a police shooting at the Stonewall bar in New York. This is considered the most significant event in the gay liberation movement, and I think having everyone read this book would help people understand what it means to be queer and help queer people understand themselves a little better. 

2. What would you abolish in book construction?

Ohohoho, so many things. I'm a very picky reader, to the point that I won't buy a book if it has a physical feature that I don't like. Okay, firstly: deckled edges. They're annoying and serve no greater purpose, so out they go. Also I would get rid of cutouts on covers - you know, if there is a circle cut out in the middle of a cover, or if the cover doesn't go all the way to the edge of the book. It's ridiculous and its got to go. I would also get rid of bible pages. The super thin pages that they usually use for massive tomes that feel like they would rip as soon as you turn the page. Those. They're awful. Goodbye to bible pages!

3. What author would you commission to write you any book?

Mmmm, the power! Again, I have two answers for this. One just for fun, and the other a little more serious. 

The serious answer: I want Madeline Miller to write a book about Apollo and Icarus so bad. Specifically, where they are lovers. I think it would be absolutely amazing, and as someone who identifies with Apollo a lot, it would be extra special. 

The fun answer: I think it would be hilarious if I could get Rick Riordan to write me into the Percy Jackson series. Nothing special, but just inserting me into Camp Half-Blood. I would love to see how he would categorize me (again, I would probably specify being a daughter of Apollo, but other than that I'd give him free reign). 

4. What book would you demote to the library basement to make room for new books?

All of these questions are giving me power that is going to go to my head. Terrible books, be gone! Is it too cliché to say Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger? Because I despise this book, like truly loathe. There are so many other books out there that would be better choices for American required reading (I had to read this in my junior year of high school and I hated every minute of it).  

5. What cover artist would you commission to make a mural?

John Rocco. 100% John Rocco. Specifically in the style of the illustrated Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief. (If you don't know, John Rocco is the artist who did the original covers of the Percy Jackson series, plus he did all the illustrations for Percy Jackson's Greek Gods and Greek Heroes, as well as the illustrated Lightning Thief.) I think his art is wonderful, and I'd love to see what he does with the side of a building. Go wild, John.

6. What characters face would you put on a coin?

Hmm, so many choices. I'd want it to be someone who is inspirational, for my imaginary subjects to look up to and aspire to be like. Some gentle and kind but also strong and intelligent. All of these traits led me to Aled Last from Radio Silence by Alice Oseman. He's creative and curious, and pretty much all of the above, too. The thought of having him on my coins makes me smile. 

For fun, I'll also say Temeraire from Naomi Novik's His Majesty's Dragon. Because who wouldn't want a dragon on their currency?

7. What book would you award the "Ruler of Books" 2022 Prize to?

Basically, the best book I've read this year so far. Something that a queen would endorse. Right now, I would pick Loveless by Alice Oseman, because it was the first book I read with an ace main character after I figured out that I'm ace myself. So it really hit home for me in the best way possible. I've read a ton of great books this year, but right now this one takes the cake.

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I just love this tag, it's so nonsense and fun. I feel like we need to start doing book tags like this again, instead of the heavy, information-dumping tags. I don't know, that's just my opinion. If you like this tag and want to do it yourself, I officially tag you! Go ahead and conquer your bookish kingdom! If you do this tag, feel free to tag me on twitter @AllyEmReads. 

Until next time!