Lauren O Thyme, $0.99, ISBN 978-1370233656
Fantasy, 2016 (Reissue)

From what I read of the author’s biography, Lauren O’Thyme is a psychic and spiritual reader for over 50 years, and an astrologer for over 40.

I haven’t heard of the author, but come on, you can’t expect me to know everybody. I’m awesome but not at that level.

She wrote these stories here for the people she know and were in need of motivation at that time, and she claims that these stories made their intended audience cry in a good way. I… find that admirable, I suppose—everyone, pretend you don’t see me cringing away.

One of these lucky beneficiaries of the stories recommended that the author publish her stories, so here it is. Thymely Tales not only has the testicular fortitude to brand the title after the author, it wants to change my life. Well, did it succeed?

Well, I find these stories very corny, excruciatingly so at times, because the tone of the narrative can make cynical old me cringe. There is a “Come on! You can do it! Just chin up!” tone to it that, while not reeking of toxic happiness, makes the inner edgy kid in me recoil nonetheless.

However, the themes are good and pretty blatant too, so they can be easily “got” by most readers. You are the one holding yourself back, just take this small step, and it will be easier for the rest of your transformational journey; sometimes we loathe what we think we are, or believe we are inadequate because we don’t really know ourselves—taking that step to discover who we are and accept what we are can be the start of a new, happier phase in our lives; on and on—that kind of thing.

Of course, not all messages will resonate with everyone. For example, there is a story of a woman that loves dancing so much that, when she breaks her back and is told that she can never dance again, loses her will to live. The author leaves this one open-ended for all kinds of interpretation—how sneaky, heh—but in this time and age, I suspect someone on social media will find reasons to be offended and scream for the author’s utter annihilation off the face of the earth.

I agree with that the story seems to be saying, though. I’d rather expire than to be a burden to the people around me, trapped in a body that I have no control over. That’s not living to me—time to negotiate with the big guy on top on improved afterlife perks or, if reincarnation is on the menu, a new life as a billionaire that will never want for anything ever again.

Anyway, the stories here are all short, and there are many of them, so this one can be a light, easy casual read where one can put down at certain points and decide later whether to pick it up again.

So, is this one transformative? While I personally have heard all this before from other self-help books and shows, I think this one may resonate with certain folks that are feeling vulnerable and need some motivation. No harm giving it a try, really, as it’s only $0.99.