Endless Knot: A Spiritual Odyssey Through Sado-Masochism [Paperback]

Mathew Styranka (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 2001

Bay Street clerk by day, fetish slave by night, Endless Knot is the autobiographical story of one man’s spiritual journey through Toronto’s underworld of hard-core sado-masochism. Growing up in Saskatchewan, Mathew Styranka spent much of his youth trying to integrate his submissive sexual passions and his spiritual yearnings. After moving to Toronto to pursue Zen meditation, he found release instead in the world of fetish and sado-masochism. His struggle to find spiritual and physical satisfaction rested in finding the Mistress of his dreams, a woman he thought would complete him through her domination. But when fantasy became reality, Styranka discovered that his true self lay somewhere between the desires of the flesh and the reflections of the mind. A fixture on the scene before it was a scene, running his own fetish nights alongside some of Canada’s top fetish retailers, Styranka brings this world to life with a simplicity and elegance that approaches a number of classics of the genre, including Leopold Von Sacher-Masoch’s Venus In Furs and Anais Nin’s Diaries.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mathew Styranka lives, surfs and writes in Tofino, British Columbia. His writing has appeared in Whiplash magazine. Endless Knot is his first book.

Product Details

• Paperback: 162 pages
• Publisher: Insomniac Press (September 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1894663101
• ISBN-13: 978-1894663106
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,477,540 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking, December 26, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Endless Knot: A Spiritual Odyssey Through Sado-Masochism (Paperback)

I found this book grabbed my interest and I couldn't put it down until I read it twice. The appeal of this book lies in the author's ability to translate his pursuit of the fullfilment of his fetish into the universal condition of humanity. It makes you re examine your search for happiness and materialism. It illustrates the truth in the age old cliche "beware of what you ask for because you might just get it". Sometimes what we think we want is just blocking the truth of who we are. Styranka's writing is direct, unpretentious and a pleasure to read. I really reccomend this book!!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fine book, June 11, 2006

By 

Journeyman (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Endless Knot: A Spiritual Odyssey Through Sado-Masochism (Paperback)

I also thoroughly enjoyed this book, an account of a period in Styranka's life that many may fantasize about but few come close to living. Styranka's writing is clear and almost conversational as he narrates his fetish and submissive lifestyle as a young adult, interwoven with zen practice. This book was hard to put down. There is one frustration, however. Styranka became the willing slave of a beautiful lesbian who was capable of considerable emotional and physical cruelty. Despite her physical perfection, his mistress was a person who turned out to be the victim of childhood abuse that she didn't want to deal with. There's an emotional disconnect between them, despite descriptions of good times they also enjoyed. There were times when I wished I could climb into the story and ask him why he stayed in the relationship for as long as he did. Hopefully, a healthier BDSM relationship wouldn't involve the non-negotiated abuse Styranka endured. At the end of the book, he suggests that he has found one. An excellent, honest book.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW!, December 13, 2002

By 

rene bardier (Toronto, ON) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Endless Knot: A Spiritual Odyssey Through Sado-Masochism (Paperback)

I thoroughly enjoyed Endless Knot. It was an easy read, honest, descriptive and emotional rather than intellectual, which allowed me to connect with it. I cried a couple of times as I could relate to the author's experiences. The juxtaposition of the author's spiritual life and his life in the fetish world is beyond fasinating. A submissive slave with a foot fetish he was, but he had the guts to ask all the big questions. My boyfriend loved it too!