This memoir recalls the boyhood years of Ontarios future lieutenant-governor, living in a dilapidated old house complete with outdoor toilet and coal oil-lamp lighting. Behind the outrageous stories, larger-than life-characters, and descriptions of the mores of a small village in the heart of Ontarios cottage country are flashes of insight from the perspective of a child that recall the great classic Who has Seen the Windby W.O. Mitchell.

But why "a different Muskoka?" Because the boy was a half-breed kid. Visits to his mothers reserve showed him that he was caught between two worlds. His mothers fight with depression flowed from that dilemma. His father the books main character was a lovable, white, working class, happy-go-lucky guy who never had any money but who made the best home brew in the village and his specialty was raisin wine.

Like that raisin wine, this unusual book goes down easily and has a kick to it.