The Telling Room

A Tale of Love, Betrayal, Revenge, and the World's Greatest Piece of Cheese

By: Michael Paterniti

Narrated by: L.J. Ganser

Length: 13 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Finalist, Non-Fiction, 2014

In the picturesque village of Guzmán, Spain, in a cave dug into a hillside on the edge of town, an ancient door leads to a cramped limestone chamber known as "the telling room". Containing nothing but a wooden table and two benches, this is where villagers have gathered for centuries to share their stories and secrets - usually accompanied by copious amounts of wine.

It was here, in the summer of 2000, that Michael Paterniti found himself listening to a larger-than-life Spanish cheesemaker named Ambrosio Molinos de las Heras as he spun an odd and compelling tale about a piece of cheese. An unusual piece of cheese. Made from an old family recipe, Ambrosio’s cheese was reputed to be among the finest in the world, and was said to hold mystical qualities. Eating it, some claimed, conjured long-lost memories. But then, Ambrosio said, things had gone horribly wrong.... By the time the two men exited the telling room that evening, Paterniti was hooked. Soon he was fully embroiled in village life, relocating his young family to Guzmán in order to chase the truth about this cheese and explore the fairy tale-like place where the villagers conversed with farm animals, lived by an ancient Castilian code of honor, and made their wine and food by hand, from the grapes growing on a nearby hill and the flocks of sheep floating over the Meseta.

What Paterniti ultimately discovers there in the highlands of Castile is nothing like the idyllic slow-food fable he first imagined. Instead, he’s sucked into the heart of an unfolding mystery, a blood feud that includes accusations of betrayal and theft, death threats, and a murder plot. As the village begins to spill its long-held secrets, Paterniti finds himself implicated in the very story he is writing.

Equal parts mystery and memoir, travelogue and history, The Telling Room is an astonishing work of literary nonfiction by one of our most accomplished storytellers.

A moving exploration of happiness, friendship, and betrayal, The Telling Room introduces us to Ambrosio Molinos de las Heras, an unforgettable real-life literary hero, while also holding a mirror up to the world, fully alive to the power of stories that define and sustain us.

©2013 Michael Paterniti (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

A vivid and craftily woven story

Would you listen to The Telling Room again? Why?

Probably not, but just because I don't really do that

What did you like best about this story?

I felt like I really got a great feel for the characters and the town

great book

Where does The Telling Room rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

a book that is about how a food can move you. very enjoyable

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

you want to listen to the book all the way in one sitting if you have time

The Original Canned Cheese

My husband doesn't understand how I can sit in front of the TV watching people preparing food; I tell him we're even because I don't understand how he can sit and watch two men pummeling each other with their gloved fists. This conversation came about as I watched *Cheese Slices'* Will Studd hiking through a little Spanish hillside in Castile to a remote village called Guzman in pursuit of a rare sheep's milk cheese preserved in olive oil. A cheese made throughout history by one family and prized among turophiles. Fellow Foodies will understand this passion. On a personal note, I am of Castilian/French ancestry, so I felt some connection to this particular cheese hunt and was intrigued -- to which my husband countered, "My grandfather was a boxer." Days later, The Telling Room: A Tale of Love, Betrayal, Revenge... appeared on Audible and I realized the "Piece of Cheese" was the same Páramo de Guzman I had seen Will Studd search out and hedonistically enjoy.

That cave was the "Telling Room", a family's bodega or "el contador," once used as a place to age the precious cheese, and to count and record the farmer's harvest. Later, the rooms were used as a gathering place to tell stories and drink copious amounts of the local wine. It is from this Telling Room that Paterniti draws out the tale of a family's cheese and two friends that battle over that cheese, lusted for by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Gorbachev, Reagan, and called by Harrod's of London, "the world's greatest piece of cheese."

Paterniti, who has an MFA in Creative Writing, is a skillful storyteller that writes with intense passion. He claims the research for this book changed his life, which is obvious in his almost loving attention to detail. (Apparently the book contains page after page of footnotes.) His own obsession with the tale of the cheese seemed like an engrossing tale -- until he introduces the reader to Ambrosio. As someone once said, "I thought I liked the chamber music until the orchestra started to play." Ambrosio is a character of Shakespearean dimensions, fueled by his love for his land, gossip and legends, and gallons of wine. His zest for life is exhilarating (even a very funny, but not irreverent, rustic soliloquy on defecating), everything becomes a shadow to his simple radiance. The story takes on a romantic fairy tale-like quality in his presence. "My name is Ambrosio Melinos de las Heras. You stole my cheese; prepare to die!"

The contrasting stories of an American journalist researching an article, and a Spanish farmer bent on revenge are tightly entwined. The book is verbose and became a little cumbersome as Paterniti painstakingly laid out his family's step by step acclimation to Spain and their personal story thread. The author uses whole chapters to tell a few paragraphs of a story, and I found myself rushing ahead to the villages of Spain and Ambrosio's story. A case of an author writing a character so well that he is outshone by his own brilliance. Readers who love the written word will enjoy...Foodies should at least look for an abridged edition. Not truly a food-themed book, hence the love, betrayal and revenge, but still enjoyable, and executed with talent and heart.


[**As for the cheese? Paterniti described the taste to the Chicago Tribune's Bill Daley: "The cheese was carrying so much metaphysical weight, it was such a product of the land. It connected me to the place....It was such a strong cheese. I didn't expect it. I couldn't eat any more of it. It was overpowering. It was such a reflection of who Ambrosio is." (You can experience his verbosity in this answer.)
*I was unable to find the cheese at any deli nearby for a tasting. The World of Imports has this description: "Páramo de Guzman is an innovative raw sheep's "cheese in a can." It is made on the banks of the Duero River in central Spain. Aged for 12 months for a piquant, sheepy flavor and a firm, slightly granular texture, it is them preserved in extra virgin olive oil -- in a can, no less. The yellow-green oil soaks into the pores of the cheese, giving it a bright olive tint and easy eating texture. From this oil come a typical Mediterranean aroma along with a citrus edge in the flavor profile. Currently sells for $22 lb."]

No excuse for horrible pronunciation of Spanish

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Not the audio version. The pronunciation of Spanish is painful to listen to.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Telling Room?

I live in Spain and love how the author captured the Castillian spirit.

Would you be willing to try another one of L.J. Ganser’s performances?

No

Do you think The Telling Room needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Not necessarily. "The cheese is dead."

Any additional comments?

It's so sad about the Spanish pronunciation because the use of the Spanish language in the book is very good. Spanish is extremely easy to learn how to pronounce. Unlike English, you can easily read Spanish one you know the sounds of the alphabet and their simple rules for accentuation even if you don't have a clue about the meaning. Don't let Ambrosio listen!

You want this in your life!

if your planning a trip to Spain or not. This book is hilarious and educational!

Interesting story ruined by the narrator

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Not quite at the level of Simon Winchester but similarly I liked that the story blended recent events with historical facts and interesting asides. I would recommend this book to a friend in print form.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Include a wedge of Paramo de Guzman cheese!

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The narrator has no clue how to pronounce Spanish. Even simple words like "bella" (pronounced beya (correctly) , not bela (as pronounced by the narrator) ) are mispronounced. This might not be a significant issue for someone that does not speak Spanish but if you do or even have a basic understanding, you will be very disappointed and increasingly aggravated as the story progresses.
I fail to understand why a bilingual narrator was not chosen (there must be many) or at the very least why the present narrator was not coached.
The narration severely detracted from the story.

Amazing in so many ways

What made the experience of listening to The Telling Room the most enjoyable?

The author bounces back and forth between history lessons and present day stories and then ties them together flawlessly.

Have you listened to any of L.J. Ganser’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, I haven't; but this one was very good.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, but it would have been too long.

Any additional comments?

I would say this ranks in the top 5 books I've ever "read." It may even be number one. I found myself very emotionally involved. The writing was brilliant and the reader was very talented.

Compelling

I can't say it was my favorite, but something about the meandering storytelling style and insights into life's meaning kept me going. I'm glad I finished it as there was a sweetness that will stick with me for awhile, I believe.

Good book, but the ending is extremely week

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

The book is interesting, and its most endearing feature is the fun and entertaining anecdotes. But the entire theme of the second half is him wrestling with the fact that he didn't know how to end it. The ending is weak, even with him transparently discussing it and sharing with the reader his angst.All in all, I would recommend it as an easy read, but don't get your hopes up for a strong finish.

Would you be willing to try another book from Michael Paterniti? Why or why not?

I think so, depends on the subject.

What about L.J. Ganser’s performance did you like?

The performance was great, very easy and entertaining to listen to.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

no

Boring

Would you try another book from Michael Paterniti and/or L.J. Ganser?

No, found the style of writing very tiresome.

Has The Telling Room turned you off from other books in this genre?

Not at all.

Would you be willing to try another one of L.J. Ganser’s performances?

possible, if the story is better written

Any additional comments?

One of the most boring books I have ever purchased at aubible.