New Book Reviews Blog Pages

Speed Reading by John Kelley

 Review
"Speed Reading: In 24 Hours: Learn to Read Faster, Think Faster and Remember What You Read" is a recently-published Kindle Ebook by John Kelley about the requisite skills, practice, and applications of speed reading.

Kelley's book is designed to benefit high school, college, and adult students who can apply his techniques to their schoolwork and in their professional careers to gain a competitive edge.

The book follows Kelley's five basic steps, beginning with "isolating the trouble" using practice tests that assess rate, comprehension, page response, fast thinking, and vocabulary.  Readers are encouraged to calculate their individual scores and to chart their progress in their Profiles.

Next, readers learn the basic techniques of speed reading, such as analyzing paragraph structures, as well as more advanced abilities, such as speed reading while maintaining a high comprehension level.

All the while, there are exercises devoted to practicing these new frameworks and an answer key to "verify your success."

Lastly, Kelley encourages his readers to apply his techniques to all reading material, and he acknowledges that speed reading is a skill that can be honed throughout one's life.

The book is most interesting in its broad approach to cultivating one's speed reading ability by teaching multiple components of the task.

Overwhelmingly, "Speed Reading: In 24 Hours: Learn to Read Faster, Think Faster and Remember What You Read" is a successful "how-to" manual for learning and improving upon one's speed reading.

More Information

Buy it on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Speed-Reading-ebook/dp/B00F3Q5JY8

Changed Forever: The Dreams of Sara Knight by Steven Misosky


Review
"Changed Forever: The Dreams of Sara Knight" is the first book in Steven Misosky's Young-Adult Series of Empowerment encouraging readers to seek out the "divine splendor within."
It begins on the birthday of 10-year-old Kara and Sara Knight who are the twin daughters conceived out of great love by their parents, Steve and Cindy, whose plan is that the twins will take the "extraordinary path" to help the Earth.

Steve and Cindy Knight as well as Steve's mother, Grandma Gaddi, tell the girls about the presence of "awakened ones" called "Heart Knowers" who are attuned to their souls and to God.  Kara and Sara become increasingly excited about this new challenge of "waking up" and experiencing each moment in the present.     

The day after the twins' birthday, the family meets Grandma Gaddi for a hypnotist show, and Gaddi presents the girls with symbolic necklaces and dream journals. From that point on, Kara and Sara reflect upon their dreams, the subconscious, love, karma, and synchronicity.

The novel is most interesting because of the philosophy Misosky presents and in the way that his narration makes one feel like he or she is there experiencing the wide range of dreams, including one involving the country singer Taylor Swift.

The emphasis on family, harmony, and one's inner-life is especially unique for a novel catering to the Young-Adult demographic.  It is refreshing that Misosky is tapping into the spiritual reservoirs of teens and adults and asking them to think about living in a different way.

By and large, "Changed Forever: The Dreams of Sara Knight" is a wonderful, descriptive narrative about challenging oneself to look within to seize the "limitless possibilities" that await. 

More Information

Buy it on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Changed-Forever-Dreams-Knight-ebook/
Blog: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7221699.Steven_Misosky/blog
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18331265-changed-forever
   

Kindreds: An Alliance of Bloods by Tani Mura



Review
“Kindreds: An Alliance of Bloods," book 1 of the Kindreds series, a fantasy/dystopian novel with a dash of sci-fi, is an engaging novel that will have the reader hooked from the start.

Tani Mura's 330-page novel follows the exploits of Raine, an ambitious twenty-year-old, in an unfriendly world.

Raine, an inhabitant of a dangerous region known as the Outer Rims, opts to become a warrior, rather than join the Breeders like most most women in her village.

Although being the only female warrior is tough, Raine manages to cope; however, her coping is in vain for she is soon whisked away to a peculiar kingdom fixated on war and genetic manipulation.

Mura masterfully builds Raine's world, immersing the reader in details that make the universe feel real.

One of the strongest points of the novel is Mura's description of each culture and its history, which adds a layer of depth to the plot that truly engages the reader.

The plot really takes off when Raine leaves the Outer Rims, steadily building until its dramatic climax.

Mura's writing is descriptive yet concise, with telling narration and dialogue.

Overall, "Kindreds: An Alliance of Bloods" is a great read with a riveting plot and a fascinating world.

More Information
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Kindreds-Alliance-Bloods-Series-ebook
Blog: http://tanirsmura.wordpress.com
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18332939-kindreds