EL SEGUNDO HERALD October 18, 2018 Page 11
Reviewed by Kristina Kora-Beckman,
Librarian, El Segundo Public Library
Author and historian Deborah Harkness’s
latest novel, Time’s Convert¸ transports
readers back to the world created by her All
Souls Trilogy. Beloved characters including
Diana, Matthew and their Bright Born children
make appearances, as readers glimpse how
traditions are challenged and fears overcome
as the twins grow into their mixed creature
heritages.
But the story primarily revolves around
Marcus and Phoebe, alternating between
Marcus’ young life pre- and post-vampire
in Revolutionary America and Paris; and
Phoebe’s current day struggles with her
own transition to vampire life. In Marcus’
back story, readers glimpse how Marcus’
deeply held beliefs of liberty, equality and
Entertainment
brotherhood developed and the toll the
ancient traditions and responsibilities of
the De Clermont family had throughout his
journey. In Phoebe’s story, readers observe
how -- despite the contemporary advances
in vampire transformation logistics -- the
couple still faces formidable challenges during
the process, including battling shadows
from Marcus’ past that threaten to derail his
present-day happiness.
I enjoyed revisiting the All Souls world and
finding out more about Marcus and Phoebe’s
journeys toward immortality. While the Trilogy
is still my favorite, I’m glad Harkness
is continuing the story and I look forward
to possible future installments.
To check out Time’s Convert, or catch
up on the All Souls Trilogy, please visit the
library to apply for your free library card.
For more reading suggestions, check out our
“Read the Book, Meet the Author” display
for our upcoming Author Fair, taking place
Saturday, Oct. 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
We’re featuring author panels, signings,
poetry readings, activities, sing-alongs and
more. Hope you can join us! •
Beautiful Boy: A Son Gone Astray
By Ryan Rojas for www.cinemacy.com
It’s a heartbreaking thing to sit helpless
watching a loved one struggle with inner turmoil
and grief. And short of that person being
oneself or a family member, watching two of the
big screen’s most beloved stars – Steve Carell
and Timothée Chalamet – play out this heart-
wrenching story as father and son is a not easy
to watch without letting your emotions surface.
Carell and Chalamet star in Beautiful Boy,
the new film based on the pair of memoirs
written by David and Nic Sheff -- a father and
son whose stories show the painful perspectives
of a son’s ongoing struggle with drug addiction.
Beautiful Boy depicts David’s desperate
determination and Nic’s recurring relapses,
revealing there may be no escape from rescuing
someone from something as merciless and
addictive as harrowing chemical dependencies.
It’s nothing short of expert casting to see these
actors inhabit these real-life roles. You might
even wish Carell and Chalamet were part of
your own family. Few other actors could make
you feel as crushed as seeing a heartbroken
Steve Carell playing a forlorn father figure.
And which other young actors could make you
feel as torn up inside as Hollywood’s latest
heartthrob, Timothée Chalamet, throwing his
promising life away?
There have been other films about the consuming
nature of drugs and addiction, and there are
familiar notes to Beautiful Boy that don’t exactly
differentiate themselves from those other films.
But what distinguishes Beautiful Boy, making it
so moving and impactful, is its ability to show
how addiction affects more than just the drug
user, but also the user’s larger circle as well.
Other stories of addiction might have focused
Check It Out
Time’s Convert by Deborah Harkness.
Film Review
Beautiful Boy, Courtesy of Amazon Studios.
solely on Nic and his journeyof substance abuse
--but in seeing his father David, meandering
around his son’s empty bedroom consumed in
thought and worry, we see the fractures from
all sides. David calls the police to report his
son as a missing person early on, but eventually
is resigned to accept that Nic’s reliable
absence signals that he is no longer missing,
but altogether lost.
What distinguishes Beautiful Boy further is
that we see the moments where Nic momentarily
recovers, rather than in a total downward
spiral. Short-term stints of sobriety are an honest
part of the experience. Nic rides the waves
as best he can until he is all but swallowed
up by the sea. Seeing a strung-out Nic at the
end of the film at his absolute worst stands
as one of the most tear-jerking moments I’ve
had this year.
There is such heart brought to this adaptation
by director Felix van Groeningen. It’s felt in the
chemistry of its stars, who also include Maura
Tierney and Amy Ryan as Nic’s worried stepmother
and mother (whose contributions in the
film are effective but largely underutilized, being
a story of father and son grief). The flashbacks of
Carell as David with the younger Nic (Kue Lawrence,
Jack Dylan Grazer) paint the entire picture
of this family’s story as even more affecting.
Beautiful Boy is a powerful, heart-wrenching
story that offers the most sympathetic portrait
of addiction that I’ve seen in recent times.
David and Nic’s stories of recovery, relapse
and the hope for redemption paint a poignant
picture of what makes life so beautiful.
120 min. Beautiful Boy is rated R for drug
content throughout, language and brief sexual
material. Now playing at ArcLight Hollywood
and The Landmark. •
Time’s Convert
by Deborah Harkness
Paulette Caudill from page 4
What is your opinion on the District’s
recent aquatics use agreement with the
City of El Segundo?
The aquatics use agreement appears to be
fair and reasoned. All the stakeholders need
to continue to communicate and adjust the
agreement over time to ensure that it continues
to be fair and meet everyone’s needs. We
have waited a long time for an Olympic-size
pool -- a very long time for a modern facility
that meets the needs of all of our residents.
I‘m excited about all the possibilities that this
pool presents.
What is your opinion on the International
Baccalaureate Programme at El Segundo
Middle School and if it is the right path?
Recently, I saw a presentation at a School
Board meeting concerning the IB program.
From the presentation, I would glean that
they are on the right path. However, I would
need to talk to all the stakeholders and get
their assessment before I make a final decision
What is the best way to ensure high academic
scores and to address any score drops
(such as in Math, English Language Arts)?
Paying close attention to data is the strongest
means to address score drops. Tests that assess
levels of understanding can be helpful tools
when analyzing learning and achievement. Data
should show what the weaknesses are. Then
once you know these weaknesses, you can
remediate them and increase academic scores.
What should be done with the surplus
monies from the Imperial School land sale?
The money from the Imperial School land
sale is only allowed to be spent on facilities and
technology infrastructure that includes interest
received. The surplus money has already been
committed: $16 million was put into long-term
bonds that generate interest. The remaining
$6.5 million have been set aside to pay for
modular buildings at Center, Richmond and
Middle School. Another million was set aside
for the aquatics center.
What is your take on state funding challenges
and how to address those?
State funding is a challenge. El Segundo
Unified receives the minimum amount of
money from the state because we don’t have
the populations of students that qualify and
receive larger portions of money. The Board
presently lobbies Sacramento through an agency
of the School Board Association and works
in tandem with PTA and California Teachers
Association who also lobby Sacramento for
increased funding. Teamwork is best.
What didn’t we ask that you feel is important
to address?
(Note: The candidate left this blank, indicating
she had no further questions).
What is something about you that people
would be surprised to know about?
I am a collector of classic British cars,
specifically Triumphs. You may have seen
me driving my red 1965 TR4 around town. I
even work on my cars, although not so much
anymore. For eight years, I served as the first
woman President of the Southern California
Triumph Owners Association and presently
serve on their board. It is great fun driving
a TR3, or a Morgan Plus 8. But my favorite
is my TR4! •
Emilee Layne from page 4
What is your opinion on the International
Baccalaureate Programme at El Segundo
Middle School and if it is the right path?
We had our first state-of-the-schools presentation
from the El Segundo Middle School
staff. There was an affirmation by one teacher
that IB has made them a better teacher. That
is answer enough for me. Teaching methodology
has shifted in many ways. Teachers are
being asked to relook and rethink many things
which might be uncomfortable, or take more
time. Student learning and workplace needs are
changing, and we must be willing to continue
to look for the best practices.
What is the best way to ensure high academic
scores and to address any score drops
(such as in Math, English Language Arts)?
High-performance districts don’t happen by
chance. We must continue to have a clear focus,
set high standards, have effective leadership,
provide a supportive learning environment,
and frequently monitor our progress towards
our goals.
What should be done with the surplus
monies from the Imperial School land sale?
First, we don’t have a surplus. With the $16
million invested as an endowment fund, the District
will have on ongoing revenue stream. The
Board has taken an active approach to utilizing
the remaining $6.625 million. People aren’t
aware that that money has funded, and is funding,
a new TLC building, and new ADA paths of
travel at Center Street Elementary, and many
other projects. With needs beyond these projects
identified in the master plan, there is no surplus.
What is your take on state funding challenges
and how to address those?
Simply put, base funding in California must
increase. California currently ranks 49th in the
nation in per-pupil spending. While our governor
has made more categorical funds available, the
ESUSD doesn’t qualify for those in ways that
allow us to keep up with the increasing costs
of educating our kids.
What didn’t we ask that you feel is important
to address?
I can’t think of anything. I think that we
were presented with a diversity of questions.
What is something about you that people
would be surprised to know about?
I love to go camping and ride my dirt bike.
My piece of heaven. •
Kristina Kora-Beckman.
Ryan Rojas.