When author Paterniti went to Spain to find Ambrosio, the man who once crafted the world's most expensive cheese, he was surprised by the simplicity and the drama of life in Castile. Narrator L.J. Ganser's enthusiastic performance complements Paterniti's style, especially during the sections about the author's personal experiences in the tiny village of Guzmán and the passages expressing his determination to uncover the story of the cheese. As the larger-than-life Ambrosio rants over perceived betrayals and tenderly recounts his family's spiritual connection to the land, Ganser toes the line of over-the-top acting but doesn't cross it. However, his Spanish pronunciations are uneven, and his booming rendition of the boisterous cheese maker becomes somewhat tiresome by the time this memoir comes to an end. C.B.L. 2014 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine
Pub Date: Sept. 10, 2013
Duration: 13 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Audible Inc./ Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
James Michener tells the real stories behind the man and his books. The recording is read with skill and consistency although the reader does little to enhance the robust, larger-than-life incidents related in the book. Due to the first-person narrative format, there is no opportunity for the narrator to change his voice. This makes some chapters monotonous as they go on and on in the typical Michener style. The listener may also become confused because the stories are not told chronologically. This is not a great choice for the audio format, but Michener fans may stick with it to the end.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 22 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In a quest for a sense of inner contentment and self-worth, Gloria Steinem brings the reader on a journey of investigation and discovery. Steinem reads the text herself in a straightforward and friendly, but not intimate, presentation which is so easy to listen to it invites repetition--thus ensuring the painless relearning of the lessons of the book. It's difficult to tell from the reading that this audiobook is abridged; each section can stand alone. Nonetheless, the listener wished the book were unabridged. Steinem left me wanting to learn more.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Dove Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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