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The Source of All Things: A Memoir Audiobook
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(4.60) - 10 listener ratings
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Tracy Ross never knew her biological father, who died after a brain aneurysm when she was still an infant. So when her mother married Donnie, a gregarious man with an all-wheel-drive jeep and a love of hiking, four-year-old Tracy was ecstatic to have a father figure in her life. A loving and devoted step-father, Donnie introduced Tracy's family to the joys of fishing, deer hunting, camping, and hiking among the most pristine mountains of rural Idaho. Donnie was everything Tracy dreamed a dad would be—protective, brave, and kind. But when his dependence on his eight-year-old daughter's companionship went too far, everything changed.
Once Donnie's nighttime visits began, Tracy's childhood became a confusing blend of normal little girl moments and the sickening, secret invasion of her safety. Tormented by this profound betrayal, Tracy struggled to reconcile deeply conflicting feelings about her stepfather: on the one hand, fear and loathing, on the other hand, the love any daughter would have for her father. It was not until she ran away from home as a teenager that her family was forced to confront the abuse—and it tore them apart.
At sixteen, realizing that she must take control of her own future, Tracy sent herself to boarding school and began the long slow process of recovery. There, in the woods of Northern Michigan, Tracy felt called back to the natural world she had loved as a child. Over the next twenty years, the mountains and rivers of North America provided Tracy with strength, confidence, comfort, and inspiration. From trekking through the glaciers of Alaska to guiding teenagers through the deserts of Utah, Tracy pushed herself to the physical limit on her way to becoming whole again. Yet, as she came into her own, found love, and even started a family, Tracy realized that in order to truly heal she had to confront her stepfather about the demons from the past haunting them both. The Source of All Things is a stunning, unforgettable story about a wounded daughter, her stepfather, and a mistake that has taken thirty years and thousands of miles of raw wilderness to reconcile. Only Tracy can know if Donnie is forgivable. But one thing is for certain: In no other story of abuse does a survivor have as much strength, compassion, bravery, and spirit as Tracy displays in The Source of All Things
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"Once I started "The Source of All Things" I could not put it down. It is amazing how Tracy deals with such a personal and painful topic and I think it would be a great gift for someone who is struggling with their own dark childhood events. I highly recommend Tracy's memoir. "
— Christopher (5 out of 5 stars)
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“Tracy Ross is unflinchingly honest as she portrays a life scarred by dark secrets and deeply concealed wounds. But it is in her beloved wilderness that we exalt in her hard won triumphs of self discovery and the serenity of forgiveness. The Source of All Things is a mesmerizing memoir that lingers in your mind long after you close the book.”
— Mary Alice Monroe, New York Times bestselling author of The Butterfly’s Daughter -
“[An] extraordinary journey of anguish and redemption.”
— People -
“Brave and heartbreaking...her courageous story will bring solace and inspiration to others drowning in fear and lacking a voice of their own.”
— Elle -
“Tracy Ross is fearless. She has faced the black stuff of her childhood and turned it into a memoir that will grip you, break your heart, and finally sing to you. Most of all, you will be glad she survived to write this funny, inspiring, beautiful book.”
— Claire Dederer, author of Poser: My Life in Twenty-Three Yoga Poses
The Source of All Things Listener Reviews
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" I was fortunate enough to be able to Host the Rabbi Tracy Ross at her signing in Boulder, Co. I wish for her the best in life, love andd health. It is a beautiful, and difficult book about the surviving the unconscionable and forgiving the unforgivable "
— Travis, 5/24/2011 -
" Beyond the fact that this book is beautiful and brave, it presents a new and interesting twist on forgiveness and atonement. This is not a story you've heard before. It will leave you asking the important questions about family. Read it and be changed. "
— Michelle, 3/20/2011 -
" Great book. I was a little scared when I started to read, just because of the subject matter - child abuse. But it was a really great book. Tracy is an amazing human being with an amazing power for forgiveness. It is not a graphic book, but it does get the point across. "
— Nancy, 3/20/2011 -
" I love this book and could not put it down. <br/>The story was interesting and she is ar good author. <br/> <br/> "
— Kelly, 3/17/2011
About Tracy Ross
Tracy Ross is an award-winning journalist and contributing editor at Backpacker magazine, an ASME Award-winning outdoor publication with 1.2 million readers. Her essay“The Source of All Things” won the National Magazine Award in 2009 and was selected for inclusion in The Best American Sports Writing and TheBest American Magazine Writing. Her Skiing magazine story “Our Country Comes Skiing in Peace” received a notable mention in Best American Travel Writing, and her work has also appeared in Outside and Women’s Sports Illustrated. Ross’ assignments have taken her to the wilds of Alaska, the ski slopes of Iran, and the most remote reaches of Ecuador. She writes about exotic places and intriguing people but mainly about the wilderness and how it intersects with the most important issues in our lives. She lives with her family in the mountains above Boulder, Colorado.