Émile Zola was one of the most important, though controversial, French novelists of the late nineteenth century, and founder of the Realist movement. In 1871 Zola began to write his most notable series of novels, the "Rougon-Macquart Novels", that relate the history of a fictional family under the Second Empire. As a strict naturalist, Zola was greatly concerned with science, especially the problems of evolution and heredity vs. environment. However,...

Recounts the development of the modern department store in late nineteenth-century Paris. The store is a symbol of capitalism, of the modern city, and of the bourgeois family; it is emblematic of consumer culture and the changes in sexual attitudes and class relations taking place at the end of the century. Octave Mouret, the store's owner-manager, masterfully exploits the desires of his female customers. In his private life as much as in business...

It isn't every day a movie star steals your husband. When that day comes for Chiffon Butrell of Cayboo Creek, South Carolina, she looks to the Bottom Dollar Girls to help her out of one fine mess. A rollicking, hilarious novel of friendship and sisterhood, A Dollar Short is a delicious page-turner worth every last cent.

Joanna Mills is a tough young woman who is determined to learn the truth behind the increasingly terrifying supernatural visions that have been haunting her. As a sales representative for a trucking company, Joanna has made a successful career for herself. But her private life has been difficult. She is estranged from her father, is being stalked by an obsessed ex-boyfriend, and fears that she is losing control. She sees and feels the brutal murder...

Frankie and Mike Heck are frazzled parents trying to stretch their patience and paychecks around three brilliantly true-to-life kids: Axl, whose latest dream girl has tattoos, body piercings, and pink hair; Sue, who's thrilled to come in eighth (out of eight) in Square Dancing with the Stars; and Brick, the only kid who has his birthday party at the public library.

A salesgirl picks up a foundling, is mistaken for its unwed mother and must keep up the charade, baby and all, to keep her job. The musical remake of one of the great comedies of the '30s, Bachelor Mother.

The Hecks tackle the beginning of a new school year, a not-so-relaxing Thanksgiving, and an unexpected wedding.

This Christmas, Emily Merkle (aka Mrs. Miracle) is working in the toy department at Finley's. Her boss is Jake Finley, the owner's son, who needs a miracle to keep the business afloat. Holly Larson needs a miracle, too. Her widowed brother who is in the army won't be home for the holidays. For Christmas her nephew wants the toy robot he saw at Finley's, and she plans to get it for him. Fortunately, it's Mrs. Miracle to the rescue. Next to making children...

It's Season six, and as the kids keep getting older, Frankie and Mike think family life is going to get easier, but they couldn't be more wrong! Bigger kids only means bigger problems! With Brick starting seventh grade as well as a new relationship, there just might be hope for him. Meanwhile , it's the 'year of sue' and Sue is navigating her way through her senior year of high school with blissful abandon, and Axel is still figuring out all the angles...