The Telling Room

The Telling Room combines several of my greatest joys: Spain, artisanal cheese, and the unparalleled wordsmithing of writer Michael Paterniti.

To track the creation one of the world’s greatest cheeses and the betrayal and sabotage that led to its downfall, Paterniti moves his family into a quiet Spanish village – and thanks to his vibrant, evocative writing, brings readers along for the ride.

As someone who’s spent time in the picturesque, history-rich environs of central Spain, I can attest that The Telling Room is the next best thing to travelling yourself to the lands of El Cid and Don Quixote. 

A few years ago I began a love affair with Spain. To be more specific, locations north of Madrid up to the Basque country. When I picked up Paterniti’s book, I felt I’d found a kindred spirit. The author obviously shares my love for this corner of the world, and he also knows how to write about the culture of small, Spanish mountain towns in a way that rings true. The cheese! The wine! The pride of men! It’s all woven together in this wonderful tale that’s equal parts memoir, mystery, travelogue, and cultural study. This was one of those… show more.