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The Little Guide to Getting Tied Up: Tips for Rope Bondage Bottoms
The first-ever full-length guide to getting tied up, from bedroom play to advanced suspensions. You'll learn all about finding the right rope partner, types of rope scenes, avoiding injuries, pain processing, and the 7 Helpful Skills of Rope Bottoming, including Mindfulness, Being Prepared, and Communicating With Your Rope Top. You'll also learn how to evaluate a suspension hardpoint for safety and much more!
112 pages, Paperback
First published July 4, 2014
About the author
Evie Vane
3 books43 followersEvie Vane is a rope performer, a bondage model, and an educator who has worked with some of the top rope artists worldwide. In addition to teaching and writing about bondage bottoming, Evie co-hosts bondage parties and other events in San Francisco. Find out more at RopeBottoming.com and RealLife50ShadesofGrey.com.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 22, 2014
This book is a quick read and enjoyable. It's enjoyable because it feels as if it Ms. Vane is sitting next to the reader helping them explore the world of rope bondage. For those who don't have readily access to classes or mentors in rope play, this is the book for you. I'm impressed with the little nuggets of information Ms. Vane packages up in easy to understand pieces. Most of this book is a repeat of information for me since I've attended several classes and experienced both suspension and standing bondage. I learned quickly that bondage is not for me. It doesn't do anything for me. I wish I had a book like this when I first started learning about ropes. This is an excellent one from a rope bottom's perspective.
In addition to good insights, Ms. Vane also brings in her experience from things gone wrong. She also advises how to help quicker healing for those who don't want to have bruises marks interfere with their vanilla life.
Shay Tiziano, who co-created RemedialRopes.com and is a registered nurse, offers this advice on bruising: Consider applying ice to minimize the bruises or help with the pain. Be careful not to over-ice, which can cause skin damage; gentle cooling for 20 minutes every couple hours should be sufficient. And be aware that NSAIDs can increase bruising. (pg. 39, loc. 584-586)
This book is helpful because it gives a first person account as well as references for additional self-learning. Many of the points brought up are ones new rope bunnies have but don't where to ask. Ms. Vane's writing style is welcoming, educational and not lecturing. This keeps the book moving in a smooth and organic manner. It's not that the chapters hop around topic to topic. Instead, each chapter flows naturally into the next.
I did look around to see if there were any other books from the perspective of a rope bottom. There are not. Most are teaching the rope top how to tie knots. With the perspective of a rope bottom, the reader also learns some good etiquette when working out a scene. This is helpful to those without a mentor. Her good suggestions for physical flexibility and fitness are also helpful. Because not everyone is the same in flexibility but it doesn't mean that bondage is out of the question for those of us who are a bit more stiff. I wish this book was written earlier so I could have read it during my rope exploration phase. Recommended to kinky folks who want to learn more about rope bondage. This is also good for Rope Tops to see what concerns and questions rope bottoms may have.
*I received this book as a review copy from the BDSM Group's R2R in return for an honest review
In addition to good insights, Ms. Vane also brings in her experience from things gone wrong. She also advises how to help quicker healing for those who don't want to have bruises marks interfere with their vanilla life.
Shay Tiziano, who co-created RemedialRopes.com and is a registered nurse, offers this advice on bruising: Consider applying ice to minimize the bruises or help with the pain. Be careful not to over-ice, which can cause skin damage; gentle cooling for 20 minutes every couple hours should be sufficient. And be aware that NSAIDs can increase bruising. (pg. 39, loc. 584-586)
This book is helpful because it gives a first person account as well as references for additional self-learning. Many of the points brought up are ones new rope bunnies have but don't where to ask. Ms. Vane's writing style is welcoming, educational and not lecturing. This keeps the book moving in a smooth and organic manner. It's not that the chapters hop around topic to topic. Instead, each chapter flows naturally into the next.
I did look around to see if there were any other books from the perspective of a rope bottom. There are not. Most are teaching the rope top how to tie knots. With the perspective of a rope bottom, the reader also learns some good etiquette when working out a scene. This is helpful to those without a mentor. Her good suggestions for physical flexibility and fitness are also helpful. Because not everyone is the same in flexibility but it doesn't mean that bondage is out of the question for those of us who are a bit more stiff. I wish this book was written earlier so I could have read it during my rope exploration phase. Recommended to kinky folks who want to learn more about rope bondage. This is also good for Rope Tops to see what concerns and questions rope bottoms may have.
*I received this book as a review copy from the BDSM Group's R2R in return for an honest review
September 18, 2014
THIS BOOK IS AWESOME...recommended for those interested in ropework (top and bottom) but mainly for bottom (the one getting tied up) because this book is mainly from the bottoms point of view eg: types of rope scenes, how to find a rope Top (person tying u up), precautions, mental preperations and so on.
This book has probably the best introductions for ropework.
It also comes with some beautiful illustrations (pictures), and also giving good examples/reference according to the content.
It also provides examples of ropework gone wrong which should be noted.
Lastly it also provides references at the rope bottoming section which gives plenty of good links to contents related.
The writing style of the author was also amazing and i loved it. Best is because the book is based on the author's experience according to the author's note.
Overall I deem this book 5 stars
*p.s. : if you're finding for a book on how to ropework e.g. tie someone up and learn the knots...its not this book but read it too as it contains important info which the top should keep in mind.
**Provided by the Author through the BDSM group on goodreads on R2R
This book has probably the best introductions for ropework.
It also comes with some beautiful illustrations (pictures), and also giving good examples/reference according to the content.
It also provides examples of ropework gone wrong which should be noted.
Lastly it also provides references at the rope bottoming section which gives plenty of good links to contents related.
The writing style of the author was also amazing and i loved it. Best is because the book is based on the author's experience according to the author's note.
Overall I deem this book 5 stars
*p.s. : if you're finding for a book on how to ropework e.g. tie someone up and learn the knots...its not this book but read it too as it contains important info which the top should keep in mind.
**Provided by the Author through the BDSM group on goodreads on R2R
September 17, 2014
~The Little Guide to Getting Tied Up (Including Suspensions) by Evie Vane was given to me as a read for review copy from the author through the BDSM group on GoodReads~
Personally I am new to the entire idea of BDSM and being tied up (or being a rope bottom). I wanted to give this book a read with the hopes of getting an idea of rope play. And I got just that. This book is both well written and incredibly informational.
It starts out with an Author's Note and Disclaimer explaining a little about the author and what her body type is. A 44-year-old female coming in at five feet two inches and 115 pounds being moderately fit, expresses honestly that her experiences will not be the same as everyone else's. This book is based on her experiences and those opinions/experiences of people who are well versed in the rope play community. The experience will be different and is possible for those who are of a different body type than her.
Now…on to the content. First off, I loved her mix of humor while still being serious and not sugar coating the intensity of this type of pleasure. For example, in the Introduction she explains when looking for rope bottoming on the internet:
"And if you search the web for “getting tied up,” well...be sure to duck before all the porn whacks you in the face."
As well as another section saying what to include in your rope bottoming bag:
"Eye rewetting drops (maybe you cum so hard your eyeballs dry out, or you wear contact lenses)."
Hilarious! She manages to keep the serious tones and gravity of the results of irresponsibility in the mind of the reader while also keeping it light and entertaining.
She keeps reminding throughout the book that rope play is a dangerous activity and can lead to permanent injury or even death. She evens lists in Appendix B "Horror Stories" that have happened to other's who did not take responsible action in rope play.
The author also uses personal stories of rope play situations that have happened to her to better explain what she means or is trying to convey in a particular chapter. Adding personal stories have greatly added to the content and helped reinforce and connect the reader with real-life situations rather than just saying matter-of-factly.
Overall, this book is one every BDSM interested person, from beginner to professional, should include in their library. Making the reader aware of the risks and respect rope play takes as well as revealing the fun and entertaining aspects of it are reasons I give this book 5 stars. I found very few mistakes (one of them being the overuse of the word "err") and a good balance of outside resources mixed with her experiences. This is not a guide by a professional but rather a guide by an experienced woman looking to enlighten others.
I would greatly recommend this book to anyone interested in rope-play whether it be rope tops or rope bottoms. I am thankful to the author and the BDSM group on GoodReads for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Personally I am new to the entire idea of BDSM and being tied up (or being a rope bottom). I wanted to give this book a read with the hopes of getting an idea of rope play. And I got just that. This book is both well written and incredibly informational.
It starts out with an Author's Note and Disclaimer explaining a little about the author and what her body type is. A 44-year-old female coming in at five feet two inches and 115 pounds being moderately fit, expresses honestly that her experiences will not be the same as everyone else's. This book is based on her experiences and those opinions/experiences of people who are well versed in the rope play community. The experience will be different and is possible for those who are of a different body type than her.
Now…on to the content. First off, I loved her mix of humor while still being serious and not sugar coating the intensity of this type of pleasure. For example, in the Introduction she explains when looking for rope bottoming on the internet:
"And if you search the web for “getting tied up,” well...be sure to duck before all the porn whacks you in the face."
As well as another section saying what to include in your rope bottoming bag:
"Eye rewetting drops (maybe you cum so hard your eyeballs dry out, or you wear contact lenses)."
Hilarious! She manages to keep the serious tones and gravity of the results of irresponsibility in the mind of the reader while also keeping it light and entertaining.
She keeps reminding throughout the book that rope play is a dangerous activity and can lead to permanent injury or even death. She evens lists in Appendix B "Horror Stories" that have happened to other's who did not take responsible action in rope play.
The author also uses personal stories of rope play situations that have happened to her to better explain what she means or is trying to convey in a particular chapter. Adding personal stories have greatly added to the content and helped reinforce and connect the reader with real-life situations rather than just saying matter-of-factly.
Overall, this book is one every BDSM interested person, from beginner to professional, should include in their library. Making the reader aware of the risks and respect rope play takes as well as revealing the fun and entertaining aspects of it are reasons I give this book 5 stars. I found very few mistakes (one of them being the overuse of the word "err") and a good balance of outside resources mixed with her experiences. This is not a guide by a professional but rather a guide by an experienced woman looking to enlighten others.
I would greatly recommend this book to anyone interested in rope-play whether it be rope tops or rope bottoms. I am thankful to the author and the BDSM group on GoodReads for the opportunity to read and review this book.
August 7, 2015
even if you are or are not into the scene, this was absolutely fascinating. It also shows that I have very strange & non-conventional work related reading topics.
February 2, 2022
I'm pretty new to the BDSM world - or kink world in general - and I'm doing my best to educate myself before I end up in an unfortunate situation - no matter how much I want to play and learn!
This book came recommended by someone over on kinktok, and it's the only one I've seen of its kind, so I wanted to give it a shot. I'm glad I did! Not only did I learn a little about how it is to be in ropes, exercises and things you can do to become a better rope bunny, I also learned a little about myself.
As someone who's still to be ''properly'' tied up, I was unsure if I should rate this book or not. What if it proves to be faulty, but I'll only know through experience? And by giving a high rating now, someone may read it and take it at face value and get hurt? Because of my rating?!
But, in the end, I'm rating it, because this book mainly supports logic thinking when it comes to keeping yourself and your rigger/partner safe, and the things mentioned here are supported by other kinksters who's blogs and vlogs I've read/watched.
I feel very luck that this book exists, to be honest.
This book came recommended by someone over on kinktok, and it's the only one I've seen of its kind, so I wanted to give it a shot. I'm glad I did! Not only did I learn a little about how it is to be in ropes, exercises and things you can do to become a better rope bunny, I also learned a little about myself.
As someone who's still to be ''properly'' tied up, I was unsure if I should rate this book or not. What if it proves to be faulty, but I'll only know through experience? And by giving a high rating now, someone may read it and take it at face value and get hurt? Because of my rating?!
But, in the end, I'm rating it, because this book mainly supports logic thinking when it comes to keeping yourself and your rigger/partner safe, and the things mentioned here are supported by other kinksters who's blogs and vlogs I've read/watched.
I feel very luck that this book exists, to be honest.
September 20, 2014
This book was fantastic. A must read for those who are rope bottoms. I am not in the BDSM scene, only a voyeur who fantasizes about these things. I have read about shabari and wanted my husband to quickly take classes in this, as I thought it was a beautiful display of being submissive and being tied up. I assumed it was up to my rope topper to ensure that all my needs were met.
Boy was I wrong, after reading this book, I felt empowered and knowledgeable as to the things one needed to do to ensure the scene was complimentary both ways. Evie Vane was blunt, clear and repeated a lot things. At first I thought why is she repeating things? But as I read on, I realized that they were important to mention more than once. I had no idea, no clue as to what a rope bottom goes through. She is right; there are no classes for rope bottoming. I commend her on her candidness and getting straight to the point.
“Some bottoms have a need to please that causes them to ignore what’s right for them.” Very well stated and clear as to the thoughts of a rope bottom.
“Don’t be embarrassed about your desires in a scene.”
I liked the chapter on “mindfulness”, we sometimes forget to clear our thoughts when being intimate with someone, and it can affect the play. Although I engage in Vanilla sex, I still learned a lot. “…be in the right headspace will go a long way toward creating a fulfilling scene.”
She gives warnings such as: “Role play, like any other BDSM practice, can be therapeutic, but if you are using it as a replacement for professional therapy, you’ll likely find it is not very effective for that goal anyway.”
Evie Vane also supplied her own experiences and she too made mistakes, which is why I found this book great. She not only talks the talk, but she walked the walk. She also provided a lot of websites for more information.
Evie Vane, thank you for writing this. By the way, the hairs behind my neck stood up when you discussed suspension play. I will get there, it is goal. For those who are ready to take up a notch, this is great read. Very well written, clear and to the point.
Boy was I wrong, after reading this book, I felt empowered and knowledgeable as to the things one needed to do to ensure the scene was complimentary both ways. Evie Vane was blunt, clear and repeated a lot things. At first I thought why is she repeating things? But as I read on, I realized that they were important to mention more than once. I had no idea, no clue as to what a rope bottom goes through. She is right; there are no classes for rope bottoming. I commend her on her candidness and getting straight to the point.
“Some bottoms have a need to please that causes them to ignore what’s right for them.” Very well stated and clear as to the thoughts of a rope bottom.
“Don’t be embarrassed about your desires in a scene.”
I liked the chapter on “mindfulness”, we sometimes forget to clear our thoughts when being intimate with someone, and it can affect the play. Although I engage in Vanilla sex, I still learned a lot. “…be in the right headspace will go a long way toward creating a fulfilling scene.”
She gives warnings such as: “Role play, like any other BDSM practice, can be therapeutic, but if you are using it as a replacement for professional therapy, you’ll likely find it is not very effective for that goal anyway.”
Evie Vane also supplied her own experiences and she too made mistakes, which is why I found this book great. She not only talks the talk, but she walked the walk. She also provided a lot of websites for more information.
Evie Vane, thank you for writing this. By the way, the hairs behind my neck stood up when you discussed suspension play. I will get there, it is goal. For those who are ready to take up a notch, this is great read. Very well written, clear and to the point.
May 29, 2020
For anyone interested in what a rope bottom is or does, this is a good yet light choice to start. It goes through the important aspects of how to always take a safe approach when doing rope, compatibility, different kinks and dynamics, and also how to maintain a safe and sane exploration throughout.
Read
June 4, 2022Got this copy from Boekstra via Boekwinkeltjes (they didn't say it is printing on demand).
It bears ISBN 978 0 9998276 1 1
v. 1.0
Six poor (low resolution) b&w photo's on pages 5, 24, 39, 48, 73 and 80.
Lightning Source is a printing on demand service of
https://www.ingramcontent.com/publish... .
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightni... .
Nice printing.
It bears ISBN 978 0 9998276 1 1
v. 1.0
Six poor (low resolution) b&w photo's on pages 5, 24, 39, 48, 73 and 80.
Lightning Source is a printing on demand service of
https://www.ingramcontent.com/publish... .
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightni... .
Nice printing.
January 15, 2023
if you're interested in rope bondage, read this first! this is an excellent resource, shedding light one things to consider when engaging in rope play. in fact, even if you're not interested in rope bondage, I think anyone could gain a lot of insight into how to communicate, navigate intimate and vulnerable situations, and maintain personal boundaries from this book.
Read
May 12, 2022My partner in my Kinbaku class lent me this book. I think it's important for me, as the tying top, to understand more about her concerns and what she's going through. There was a lot of helpful information in here! Would read again.
August 23, 2023
Full of practical examples and prudent safety advice. I found Vane's writing style engaging and inspiring. Was a short read, but you kinda want that in a little tip guide, just enough to keep you safe and oriented before jumping in to practice.
July 18, 2020
I love this book because I like and love bondage and bdsm and being tied up
September 3, 2020
Maybe this stuff just doesn't translate well into books?
May 22, 2021
A lot of rope bunny guides focus on self-tying and I was happy that this had very little of that.
January 9, 2023
Consider this my coming out lol
August 1, 2016
Informative and a must read
Very informative and a great beginners guide. Lots of references and examples drawn from the authors personal experiences. A must read for experienced and novices alike.
Very informative and a great beginners guide. Lots of references and examples drawn from the authors personal experiences. A must read for experienced and novices alike.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews