def METHOD_NAME(data):
    '''Read a plist data from a (byte)string. Return the root object.'''
    plistData = NSData.dataWithBytes_length_(data, len(data))
    if not plistData:
        raise NSPropertyListSerializationException(
            "Could not convert string to NSData")
    dataObject, dummy_plistFormat, error = (
        NSPropertyListSerialization.
        propertyListFromData_mutabilityOption_format_errorDescription_(
            plistData, NSPropertyListMutableContainers, None, None))
    if dataObject is None:
        if error:
            error = error.encode('ascii', 'ignore')
        else:
            error = "Unknown error"
        raise NSPropertyListSerializationException(error)
    else:
        return dataObject