EL SEGUNDO HERALD October 13, 2016 Page 7 Entertainment Check It Out Film Review El Segundo Library Staff Book Reviews and Recommendations October is fast upon us and in celebration of all things supernatural, I’m reviewing my favorite paranormal series, the All Souls Trilogy, by Deborah Harkness. This series has it all, adventure, romance, time travel, witches, vampires, daemons, there’s something for all sorts of readers to enjoy. Harkness is a scientific historian by training and incorporates her love and appreciation of science and history throughout the books. Her main character, Diana Bishop is also a historian that has rejected her witchy heritage in favor for a more normal life in academia. All that changes when she accidentally comes across a magical book long coveted by supernatural beings for its power and historical significance. Finding the long lost book makes Diana a target for those that would wish to control the power the book promises and brings her magical heritage crashing back into her life. Throughout Diana’s journey in discovering and mastering her supernatural talents, the books incorporate a great mix of details about actual events, scientific theory and historical figures interspersed with fictional details regarding vampire lore, witchcraft theory and character thoughts and feelings. Similarly, the series winds through various locales … New England, Oxford, France, New Orleans and Poland, painting a rich portrait of the landscape, flavor and feeling these locations exude. Familial bonds of parents, children, couples and friendships are also explored and tested throughout the trilogy in conventional and non-traditional ways. If you are fan of historical fiction, supernatural tales and/or detailed storytelling, give Harkness’ trilogy a try. You’ll be glad you did. To check out these novels, or any other supernatural titles on your October to-read list, please visit the library to apply for your free library card, or please contact the reference staff for further assistance. Reviewed by Kristina Kora-Beckman, Librarian I, El Segundo Public Library. • Burkley & Brandlin LLP A T T O R N E Y S A T L A W Living Trusts/Wills, Probate, Employment Law, Personal Injury Trust and Estates Litigation, Business Litigation, Civil Litiga tion 310-540-6000 Lifetime El Segundo Residents *AV Rated (Highest) Martindale - Hubbell / **Certified Specialist Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law, State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization Brian R. Brandlin • Bruce R. Brandlin • Christopher P. Brandlin Douglass M O R T U A R Y “Our Family Serving Yours Since 1954” B U R I A L - C R E M A T I O N - W O R L D W I D E T R A N S F E R P E T M E M O R I A L P R O D U C T S 500 EAST IMPERIAL AVENUE EL SEGUNDO, CALIFORNIA 90245 Telephone (310) 640-9325 • Fax (310) 640-0778 • FD658 ‘Do Not Resist’ is an Unsettling Exposé of Those Sworn ‘To Protect and Serve’ By Morgan Rojas for www.cinemacy.com On Saturday, Oct. 8, three Palm Springs police officers were shot after responding to a family disturbance call, a seemingly routine operation that ended up being anything but. Jose Gilbert “Gil” Vega, 63, a 35-year veteran who was due to retire in December, and Lesley Zerebny, 27, who had just returned from maternity leave after giving birth four months earlier, were both killed as a direct result of their gun-related injuries. As tragic and shocking as this situation is, officer-involved shootings– from both sides of the gun– are no longer isolated incidents, but instead are becoming more commonplace each day. The pervasive question of “how did we get here” is what makes director Craig Atkinson’s timely documentary “Do Not Resist” so compelling as he shines a light on the reality of American policing today, the militarization of the force, and the effect it is having on the communities they are sworn to protect. “Do Not Resist” opens on the streets of Ferguson, Missouri during one of the nightly protests following Michael Brown’s shooting death in 2014, where tension and emotions are at an all-time high. Atkinson and his camera become a fly on the wall as hundreds roam the streets chanting “No Justice, No Peace” and “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” while police try to control the ever-growing, increasingly hostile crowd. It’s these types of scenarios that raise the question of how to ensure the safety of citizens and the officers themselves. Many seem to think that military-grade weapons, armored cars, and other various equipment will make communities a safer place, and since the federal government has given police departments more than $40 billion in military-style equipment since 9/11, access to this weaponry is so much easier. But who is this benefitting, really? Atkinson attempts to show how citizens disagree with the choice to accept such high-powered weapons for fear that America will become a militarized war zone and in turn, the rights and free will of citizens will come second to an officer’s agenda. “More Mayberry, Less Fallujah” one protestor’s sign reads. Then there are those who side with law enforcement, claiming that they need these specific weapons, because “at some point, the state has warranted it.” And who can blame the officers for assuming the worst in others when they are consistently being trained by those in positions of authority that police are “men and women of violence” and “violence is your weapon.” Is it really any surprise then that the first reaction is to turn to military-style protection? This issue, in general, is a divisive one, and while “Do Not Resist” does side with those critical of law enforcement’s tactics, there is no arguing with the facts and numbers it presents onscreen. We see and hear first-hand accounts of police training seminars admiring the reputation of law enforcement in places like Mexico and Russia and acknowledging the use of city-wide CCTV cameras with software that allows the government to track people and objects. It is all extremely eye-opening and a disturbing reality check of what 21stcentury American police culture looks like today. “All Souls Trilogy” By Deborah Harkness Police in Richland County, South Carolina conduct a drug search warrant for marijuana in ‘Do Not Resist.’ Courtesy of VANISH Films. See Film Review, page 13 Kristina Kora-Beckman. All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness. Like Us on Facebook
Herald_101316_FNL_lorez
To see the actual publication please follow the link above