I don’t know why this is happening, but I’ve been loving every single book I’ve read lately. Maybe it’s because I’m getting better at reading reviews, or more discerning. I’m not tempted to read a book that everyone else seems to love if I can tell it’s not for me. OR, maybe it’s just luck. Anyway, I finished two books this week:
The Agatha Christie was a reread, as always. There isn’t an Agatha Christie I haven’t read, but since I read most of them in my teens and 20s, sometimes I can read one again without remembering the twist. This was happily one of those times! I got inspired to read this particular one from Stephany (I hope she enjoys it as well!)
The Iris Murdoch book- just in case you think I’ve changed my mind am in now into horror- does NOT involve an actual severed head. It’s a story about marriage, infidelity, and “love,” although I would question that last word- more like “infatuation” and “passion.” I love Iris Murdoch’s writing- the people get themselves into some preposterous situations, and yet I find myself thinking “yes, I can see why he did that.” It was also funny, AND was written in the 1960s, which is my new favorite decade to read about.
Eating! Well, there’s not much to report. We’ve somehow been managing to eat a dinner every night, but it hasn’t been exciting. I did, however, make donuts! This requires a bit of a backstory.
Several years ago, we “cruelly” ruined my daughter’s 4th of July by forcing her to spend the day in the car driving up to Tallahassee. We had to pick my son up from camp, and she was too young to stay alone. I tried to make the trip as festive as possible, but she wasn’t having it.
Then we suggested celebrating on a different day, but of course she pointed out that THE 4TH OF JULY HAS TO BE ON JULY 4Th. We tried to get around that by celebrating a few days later and calling it “July 4th Day.” She still wasn’t convinced, so I pulled out all the stops and made donuts. Hence, the July 4th Day Donut Tradition was born.
This year, “July 4th Day” fell on Sunday the 14th, because that was the day I had enough time to make donuts. I’m talking about yeasted donuts, which have to rise, then are cut into the donut shapes, and then deep fried. When you only deep fry donuts once a year, it’s VERY hard to get it right.
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But, it didn’t matter. They all tasted good with a nice glaze on top, and everyone was happy. Phew, done with that task for another year.
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If you’re reading this on Wednesday, I’m on my “reading retreat” right now!!! I’ll be back with an update on Friday.
Have you ever made fried donuts?
What are you reading now?
Top photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash
24 Responses
Enjoy your retreat! I have never ever made donuts and I don’t think that I ever will – yeast and deep frying are two things that I do not do well. But I admire you for doing it and I love the July 4th Day tradition.
I read Iris Murdoch a reeeeeealy long time ago and remember nothing. Maybe I need to revisit her. As for Agatha, same as you in that I’ve read them all and sometimes I go long enough between rereadings that I forget the plot, so I get to discover it all over again.
I definitely think a person could go through their whole life happily without deep frying donuts! And, I had the same experience with Iris Murdoch- read her years ago, remembered nothing, and just picked up this book and really liked it.
I rarely eat doughnuts but if I do, my FAVOURITE are homemade ones just sprinkled with plain sugar. My mom made them occasionally when I was growing up, but in university there was a retro diner in town that had a giant glass jar full of homemade doughnuts. So. Good. I’ll admit I have exactly zero desire to try to make doughnuts myself, but each Easter our church serves apple cider doughnuts on Easter Sunday and they are legit some of the most delicious things I have ever eaten in my life. I need to stop thinking about doughnuts now or I will be craving them all day. Love that you’ve made this a tradition (though maybe you regret having to do this each year now…that’s the tricky thing with traditions since it tends to fall to moms to keep them going…!)
Isn’t it the best feeling to be on a great reading streak. I hope your reading retreat is all sorts of fun <3
I know, I don’t know what I was thinking when I started this tradition. But yes- freshly made donuts are the best.
I WANT to make donuts– very intimidating though!
Sarah, if I can do it, you can do it. I promise you!
I’m so impressed that you make donuts at home, deep fried and all! I have a donut pan that I’ve used a few times to make baked donuts but honestly I’m not a huge fan of donuts so I don’t go out of my way to make or eat them, but homemade ones are probably the best!
I also have a donut pan, but the family prefers fried over baked (of course they do!)
Those donuts look seriously impressive! And I hope you’re having a blissful reading retreat day <3.
I’m back from my “retreat” and yes, it was blissful!
I am currently reading “Wellness” and it’s pretty good but holy shit it’s long. Like, it could have been cut by a third with no effect on the plot. Where was the editor? This is why I so rarely read male authors, particularly straight male authors, it’s like they can just have some kind of enormous stream of consciousness and still get published. I’m getting all Mrs Lynde “Isn’t that just like a man?” MEN I SWEAR.
Anyway, other than the length it’s pretty good and a faster read than I anticipated (SIX HUNDRED AND ELEVEN PAGES)
I don’t care for doughnuts, I don’t dislike them but I never choose one. However, I am super impressed with you making your own! What a feat!
In all honesty, I can’t remember the last time I ate a donut and will probably go through the rest of my life never eating one again (I didn’t eat any of these.) But- my kids love them.
So, you think male authors do that more than female? That’s interesting! I know some people loved “Wellness” but I’m going to take your review seriously, and skip it.
Looks delicious! It sounds like a lot of work but looks worth it.
I just read The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez, which I enjoyed, but not quite as much as Just for the Summer. I do like how she writes real, complicated people but still comes up with a HEA that works.
I’ve never read Abby Jimenez, because I don’t usually like romance. But the fact that you describe the characters as “complicated” makes them sound pretty good.
How fun that you made donuts! That makes me think of the great British baking show! I have never made donuts but my mom talks about her mom making them. I think she has stopped making them by the time I was born.
I hope your reader retreat was amazing!! I just finished a memoir for bookclub called ‘wavewalker’ which I would say is just ok. Now I am reading ‘summer romance’ by Annabel Monaghan which is cute so far. I needed something light and easy.
Lisa, that is so funny- because MY mom used to talk about HER mom making donuts! She- my grandmother- would make donuts on each kid’s birthday, and that’s for sure where I got the idea. Obviously it skipped a generation, because my mom certainly never made donuts! But the way she described getting homemade donuts on her birthday made it sound so fun and special, I guess that’s why I decided to try it.
I just started a book for my book club, but I’m not going to be able to go to my book club, so it feels futile. LOL. What a life.
I’ve never made donuts. It seems really hard! That is entirely based on watching an episode of the Great British Bake-Off when contestants royally screwed up the donut technical challenge. You’re a culinary queen!
Ha, I really can’t accept that title. BUT, it’s funny you mention that because while I was making these- and struggling with the oil temperature- I did say something like “You know, even on these baking shows they don’t always get the donuts right!”
YOU MADE DONUTS!!! So many steps! Go you!
I love fried food, but I don’t love deep frying food at home because it is so messy and I never know what to do with the oil afterwards. My family loves corndogs, which I do make for them once a year. Maybe I should have a corndog-donut-deep fat fry day and do it all at once.
I’ve been listening to Agatha Christie radio plays while commuting this summer. I just listened to Sad Cypress and am now listening to Murder in the Caribbean. I can’t remember if I’ve read Three Little Pigs or not- maybe I should re-visit that.
Can’t wait for a report on your reading retreat!
Murder in the Caribbean is a good one!
Yes, maybe you should have a day where you go all out and fry several things. Otherwise, I just end up throwing the oil away (and by that I mean, dumping it out in the yard,) It is a LOT of oil to be used and thrown out like that.
I have only made baked donuts; I keep wanting to air fry some but I’m overly distracted by my sourdough starter haha! I love the concept of a July 4th Day! I worked in retail for years and celebrated so many holidays not on the holidays (almost to the point that I enjoy that more sometimes, haha!)
I just finished reading The Good House for the PSRC and am about to start The Davenports…
Iris Murdoch! Hooray! She’s my favourite author – here’s my review from my probably fourth re-read – I did all her novels in order in 2018/2019 and am about due another go-through. https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2018/03/08/book-review-iris-murdoch-a-severed-head/ In fact it was the first of her novels I read, loaned to me by my excellent neighbour, when I was (a very sheltered) 14 – I understood it better the second time I read it! I hope to see you reading more of hers! Also very impressive on the doughnut front!
Homemade donuts feel like such a feat! Every time I see them made on cooking/baking shows, I’m always SO impressed.
I didn’t love Five Little Pigs, unfortunately. 🙁 It was a 3-star read for me. I just felt like going over the same day over and over and over again was kinda boring. And it was the first Christie where I figured out the murderer early on, which was kinda a bummer haha. But not every one can be the greatest! I’ll keep forging on. 🙂
Unpopular opinion: yeasted donuts are one of my least favorite “pastries” ever. EVER. I avoid them at all costs. When I was a kid, my favorites were a honey something twist (cake + plain glaze, in a twist, natch) and a chocolate honey dipped (chocolate cake, traditional round, with the same glaze). They were amazing. My dad used to go get donuts on Saturday mornings and oh, it was so special. I can picture the box! 🙂 I’m sure your daughter will have similarly fun memories, despite her tweenage attitude. 🙂
I admit, the title of that book gave me pause. HA!