Review of "The Ropes that Bind" Tracy Stopler

A Review of Tracy Stopler's book, 

"The Ropes that Bind."

ISBN: 13: 978-1-53-338111-8   ISBN: 10: 1533381119   
available on Amazon and Barnes and Nobles

Won 2017 NYC Big Book Award "Distinguishing Favorite" in Woman's Fiction
www.theropesthatbind.com      Rating:  ***** 5/5   Highly recommended

The title is a bit misleading ... "the ropes that bind." The story (based on a true event, a true journey) takes us gently through a trauma experience of  a young girl and her journey to  heal. The ropes bind for a while yet they could not hold the protagonist, Tali Stark’s spirit.
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I've met people who experienced trauma, yet they were  not able to bridge the deeper elements of a journey to healing. Some  people after experiencing trauma have a very hard time bridging to deep relationship, to intimacy.

At the beginning of the story, the ropes blocked a part of her journey, enough for her to feel guilty and want to be forgiven for something that she did not create.
Being a child,  she didn't know to listen to her inner voice which was basic, "I should have gone to school." Little did she know that an adult man, was going to do an evil act, to violate her boundaries, to give her an experience that a child her  age could not understand, could not integrate into her world. 

Once the event of the sexual abuse occurred  her task was to survive. Thriving was not something that could be considered. As she grew up, she remained open on certain levels of her journey. She allowed herself, consciously or subconsciously, to move toward  healing. 

The table of contents spills out the elements of her journey, schooling, opening to a mentor,beginning to explore love. There seemed many detours, a betrayal in a relationship, the death of her mentor, the death of her lover.

At some point, she was able to open to psychotherapy as a tool toward healing. She was able to find and radiate her talents. She was able to enjoy the intimacy of a kiss. Her spirit was able to link with a spiritual dimension that allowed her to grow and heal. She was now moving from surviving to thriving.

Long story short, this is a beautiful book. It is an inspiration for anyone who experienced trauma and wants to find the journey to heal. Even if you have not experienced a trauma, it is a great journey to read about. 

I believe it could be used by a therapist with their client to help the client to move from the past, the trauma, to the present. The therapist using the book could help the client regain their control and direction. 

I strongly recommend this book to everyone, especially all who work to help people heal and move toward thriving.