Lawrence B. Sargeant
Larry Sargeant will hold a book-signing event at the Rock Valley Brewery on Sunday, October 15, from 12 to 5 p.m. The author of two novels will be available to offer and sign copies of his 2-volume fictional memoir – The Saga of Chief Barking Loincloth: Book 1 – In Search of a Hero and The Saga of Chief Barking Loincloth: Book 2 – In Search of Forever.
In our age of modern awareness, it is easy to criticize the past for its social and cultural narrow-mindedness. The 1940s through the 1960s were notable for their waspish bigotry, misogyny, homophobia, xenophobia, and general hypocritical self-righteousness. Growing up in those years required continuous adjustment in dealing with growing enlightenment. Using fictionalized personal experiences, Sargeant invites us to understand the challenges of acceptance, adaptation, and growth.
Born in 1942, protagonist Alan Bentley’s childhood dreams were influenced by the concept of heroism embodied in post-WWII enthusiasm and immortalized in news, literature, and music. In this process of self-discovery, In Book 1, he unabashedly recounts adventures and misadventures, revealing humor and pathos in elusive successes and humiliating missteps as he encounters the social contradictions, hypocrisy, and bigotry of America’s mid-20th century.
Book 2 picks up as Alan returns from his unfulfilled hero’s quest to his childhood home after three years in the army. He’s disappointed in himself and struggles to reevaluate his life’s goals. During his frequently humorous, often exciting, and characteristically meandering journey, he experiences an epiphany that inspires him to revive the pursuit of his inner hero. The result is an awareness that provides life-long focus, leading to a profound, unexpected conclusion of his quest.
Reviews of both books have been enthusiastically positive.