THE SECRET LIFE OF DUST From the Cosmos to the Kitchen Counter, the Consequences of Little Things

Holmes examines dust from all sources—from outer galaxies to deserts and toxic power plants—covering topics from planet formation to climate change and the increasing incidence of asthma. Eliza Foss has a clear, likable voice and a good sense of pacing. Her genial tone helps maintain interest and makes the information easier to absorb. But the writing sometimes becomes precious or strains for meaning or feeling; when Foss does likewise, the tone can become cloying. A straightforward reading, playing against the writing, might have served the book better. Still, there’s more positive than negative in Foss’s performance, and the book is interesting despite being overwritten and, at times, over-read. W.M. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2011]