Between work and life, I haven't had much time for writing these days. Luckily for you, my job requires me to read a ton, so here's some news you can use.

For all the former Degrassi fans out there (like me), you might be interested in knowing that this season raises the issue of incest and introduces a transgender character.

More states are starting to ban shackling during labor in prisons and more women have been suing states for engaging in this practice.

There's a new gel women can use during vaginal sex to lower the risk of contracting HIV and herpes. Love the potential for women to take control of their reproductive health.

A 12-year-old girl used Facebook to get help as her mother's ex-boyfriend attempted to sexually assault her.

Rachel Maddow's high school yearbook picture has Republicans commenting on how pretty she was. I actually think she looks hotter now, but maybe that's just me.

My love for Frida Kahlo is far from secret, but apparently Google loves her too! That, or they're running out of people to celebrate on the homepage.

Either way, happy birthday to Frida, an incredible artist, a fearless woman, and one of my idols. I'm sure you're somewhere celebrating with lots of music and booze.

"I hope the end is joyful - and I hope never to come back."

Cross-posted at Feministe

Even though I love Coco Chanel’s style almost as much as I love Igor Stravinsky’s music (quite a lot), I had no idea about the connection between these two iconic figures until I saw the film Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky.

In 1913, Igor Stravinsky premiered a new, controversial work in Paris: The Rite of Spring. Audience reaction was not exactly positive – it caused a riot, with many people walking out, booing, or yelling in outrage. There was, however, one notable audience member who was pleased and impressed, and that was Coco Chanel. Seven years later, Igor has left Russia and upon meeting each other, Coco invites him and his family to stay in her villa in order to support his work. It is rumored that the two had an affair during this time, and that is what unfolds in this film.

Based on the novel Coco & Igor, the film depicts how their relationship developed and how they inspired each other. Through the passion and creativity their affair ignites, Igor is able to finish a new and improved version of The Rite of Spring, and Coco creates Chanel No. 5. All of this happens as Igor’s sick wife, Catherine, sits by wondering what is going on until she is forced to confront them.

I found the film truly captivating. The passion between Igor and Coco leaps off the screen, thanks to the wonderful performances by Mads Mikkelsen and Anna Mouglalis. Their steamy love scenes were so realistic, I almost felt as if I was watching a private moment that I shouldn’t be a witness to. That said, I also liked that the film wasn’t only about their affair, but also about them going through the process of creating and feeling fulfilled by their work. His music is almost as important as the dialogue itself, constantly playing in the background. Seeing Coco in her element as a designer was great, and though her quest for the perfect scent was a little overly dramatic, there was some clapping in the audience when she does finally get to Chanel No. 5. One of my favorite moments in the film is when Coco is comparing her work to Igor’s work. He insults her by saying that she is merely a shopkeeper, and it is implied that this is one of the reasons their connection begins to break.

I think the best part about the film is Elena Morozova’s portrayal of Catherine Stravinsky. At first, her character seems to be the typical wife who chooses to accept her husband’s infidelity. As the film continues, however, her character becomes more complex. The tension between Catherine and Coco is uncomfortable enough to be believable yet subtle enough to make the audience tense as well. It is also interesting that rather than treating her as “the other woman,” Catherine does have some admiration for Coco and her independent, unconventional life. At the start of the film, I barely noticed her, yet by the end, I found myself rooting for her.

I tried hard to find something I didn't like about the film, but I just couldn't. In the end, it doesn't even matter how much of the story is true and how much of it is fiction -- the story still managed to take me in.

Now that LOST is over, I must cling to the tv shows I watch and enjoy. And with that, I bring you the Feministe True Blood roundtable and my SYTYCD recaps WOOT! Lauren and I will post our True Blood reactions every Tuesday and I'll give a recap of performance night every Thursday. So if you're a fan of either show, go ahead and check it out.

So for everyone who's tired of listening to me complain about what will come of my life now that I don't have Harry Potter or Lost to obsess over, you're in luck, for I've a new addiction: The Passage by Justin Cronin.

I finally got around to starting the advance copy I received ages ago, and I can't put this thing down! It comes out today, so somebody is going to need to buy a copy so they can read it with me. This doesn't seem like one of those things I can read by myself. Just like HP & Lost, I need somebody to at least react with. This is the best description I've seen: "'The Passage' is a story about vampires, viruses and a young girl who has a chance to save the world."

I'm not a big fan of vampire lit, but seriously, this book is not that.

Cutest part is that he came up with the idea because of his daughter. She suggested that he write a book about a little girl saving the world and, together, they started mapping out this story.

At any rate, I was going to post today about how I'm starting to get back on track with my blogging, except now I worry this book will take up all my time. Luckily, it won't take all that much time at the rate I'm reading...