http://www.amazon.com

It might be difficult to find someone in this day and age that is not familiar with Amazon.  The website has grown into an on-line shopping mecca, catering to almost every need of a potential consumer.  Amazon is a lifestyle resource–a place where we go to find what we need without having to leave the comfort of our home or office.  Originally offering only a small selection of items (predominately books); consumers can now fill their shopping carts with a diverse assortment of items from power tools to bubble bath and chocolates.

For first time users, it is advised to create a log-in with your personal and billing information for easy check-out upon purchase.  By creating an account, the web site keeps track of items you look at and then suggests similar items of interest.  This is a great selling tool that encourages the customer to browse even more, clicking on a different item which leads to another page and so on.  After your account is created, it is time to fully explore the website and see what Amazon has to offer.  The following is a list of the main categories: Books; Movies, music and games; Digital downloads; Electronics and computers; Home and garden; Grocery; Toys, kids and baby; Apparel, shoes and jewelry; Health and beauty; Sports and outdoors; Tools, auto and industrial.  By clicking on these options, another stream of lists with even more options appears.

Amazon is continuing to expand and develop, now offering blogs and hosting a writing/publishing contest.  Perhaps it newest feature is Kindle, Amazon’s wireless reading device.  Costumers can now purchase and download books onto the device making it easy to read wherever they may be.  These new features only broaden Amazon’s scope, showing that the company is willing to expand and move forward in the world of technology to please their customers.  For shoppers who are interested in researching a product, finding a great deal and want to avoid stores, shopping at leisure in front of their computer, Amazon is the perfect site.

Reviewed by Library staff member – Jennifer Holley – S.F.

Vogue Living: Houses, Gardens, People is a book consisting of thirty-six houses and gardens from around the world.  Some images have never before been published; others come from past issues of Vogue Living.  The book is a gorgeous record of the lives and living places of style- setters in the worlds of fashion, art, and society.

Among the offerings is Madonna and Guy Ritchie’s Ashcombe, Wiltshire country estate, photographed in 2005.  Built near the Druidical worship site Stonehenge, the home is surrounded by miles of breathtakingly beautiful countryside.  Originally owned by portrait photographer Cecil Beaton, there are many photos of Beaton on the property in the 1940’s.

Oscar and Annette de la Renta’s two homes–one in Punta Cana and one in New York City were documented on the pages of Vogue in 1998 and 1992, respectively.  The designer’s homes display his design and color sense in two very different ways.  The photo layout celebrates the grace and style that is the hallmark of de la Renta’s fashion empire.

The homes of Christian Lacroix, Donna Karan, Sofia Coppola and others are included in this often dazzling and other times regal account of the lives of the rich and famous.  Or at least, the homes they live in. Vogue Living: Houses, Gardens, People is an inspired collection of images.  These people are living their dreams to the fullest.

Reviewed by Library staff member Cynthia Aaron