RAIN A Natural and Cultural History

Barnett's engaging book seeks as much to charm as to inform listeners. Christina Traister's narration is generally clear, and her lighthearted tone matches Barnett's prose. The discussions feature rain covers, climate change, cloud seeding, the settlement of America's arid west, umbrellas, the flooding the Mississippi River, fashionable waterproof fabrics, and the rainiest place on earth--among other topics. Traister has a rich and pleasant alto, but before phrases she finds difficult to pronounce, she often pauses. At first, this habit is endearing, like a friend reading an unfamiliar book aloud--but eventually it becomes less charming. However, it never interferes with her ability to tell a story. F.C. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2015]