James K. Bartleman

Raisin Wine: A Boyhood in a Different Muskoka James K. Bartleman Reprint edition

A warm, at times hilarious, yet dark childhood memoir from a bestselling author.

This memoir recalls the boyhood years of Ontario?s 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 Ontario?s 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 mother?s reserve showed him that he was caught between two worlds. His mother?s fight with depression flowed from that dilemma. His father ? the book?s 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.


From the Hardcover edition.