Category: Independent Reading

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott is a classic coming-of-age novel published in 1868. The story follows the lives of the four March sisters: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy as they grow up in Civil War-era New England. The novel talks about themes of family, love, independence, sacrifice, and personal growth. The story begins with the March family living in modest circumstances after their father goes off to fight in the Civil War. Despite their financial struggles, the sisters share a deep bond and face life’s challenges together. Each sister navigates her personal ambitions, flaws, and relationships. Jo struggles with her desire for independence, Meg learns to balance family life with her aspirations, Amy pursues her artistic dreams, and Beth’s quiet strength influences everyone around her. 

“Touched to the heart, Mrs. March could only stretch out her arms, as if to gather children and grandchildren to herself, and say, with face and voice full of motherly love, gratitude, and humility–‘Oh, my girls, however long you may live, I never can wish you a greater happiness than this!'” (p. 578)

It reflects her immense joy and fulfillment as a mother. The context of this moment highlights her dreams for her daughters’ happiness, love, and unity as a family. When Mrs. March stretches out her arms, it symbolizes her desire to embrace all her children and grandchildren both literally and emotionally. Her words express a heartfelt blessing, wishing them the same happiness she feels in that moment. The combination of “motherly love, gratitude, and humility” shows the blessings in her life and her selfless devotion to her family.

Right now I am reading Hunger by Michael Grant. This is the second book in the gone series and shockingly focuses on the problem of hunger. Kids are trapped in the FAYZ (Fallout Alley Youth Zone) and everyone over the age of 15 has disappeared. The second you turn 15 you poof out of the FAYZ, but we don’t know where they go. So far 2 kids have survived the poof and are 15 they are twin brothers Sam and Caine. Buuuuut they didn’t know each other until the FAYZ began and then had no idea that they were brothers, but they figured it out when people started checking birth certificates to see when they would poof, although Caine had already believed that Sam was his brother. Anyways, 3 months after a big showdown between everyone in the FAYZ Caine is in some sort of hut and has been badly injured and only semi conscious. Now he starts to ask questions about people and things that have happened while he has been losing his mind.

‘And my brother?’

‘Sam?’

‘I don’t have another long-lost brother do I?’

I just thought the quotation was funny. I also just started the book so I didn’t have many other options.

I am half way through the book Allegiant, by Veronica Roth, and so far it has been very interesting. Allegiant picks up right after the events of Insurgent, with Tris, Tobias, and their friends escaping their so called home; “the city” to explore what is beyond the fence.

The book walks through the dystopian world of Chicago, uncovering shocking secrets about the beginning of the factions and the purpose of the experiments made by the genetically enhanced individuals. They learn that the genetic difference between “Divergents” and “non-Divergents” is way deeper than they thought, and their efforts to fight for a better future take them to dangerous places.

“She taught me all about real sacrifice. That it should be done from love… That it should be done from necessity, not without exhausting all other options. That it should be done for people who need your strength because they don’t have enough of their own.” (p. 166)

This quotation highlights Tris’s changing understanding of sacrifice towards her loved ones, showing that it should come from love and certainty, not responsibility. Tris learns that true sacrifice is a selfless act done for those who can’t help themselves, and it should only be made after all other options are impossible.

Boy in striped Pajamas by John Boyne. The book explores themes of innocence, friendship, and the horrors of the holocaust. The book is set during world war II and it tells the story of Bruno who is a German boy, that is the son of a Nazi commandant. Brunos family ends up forcing him to move because his father has been assigned a new post, so all of his family ended up moving closer to his fathers new post.

Mother had frowned but then shrugged, as if none of it really mattered any more anyway. ‘Come on then, Bruno,’ she said, taking his hand and locking the door behind them. ‘Lets just hope we get to come back here someday when all of this is over (pp. 41-42).

This quotation from when they are moving and this is then Bruno and his mother leaving the house. The reason of why I chose this quotation because if you read between the lines it explains that they might not survive the holocaust or world war II.

I am currently reading Keeper of the Lost Cities: Neverseen by Shannon Messenger. A girl named sophie and her friends are looking over their forms for Exilium (the school for the unworthy) to make sure everything is correct. Sophie was created by the Black Swan (a rebel group) and raised by humans to give her a different perspective on the world. One of the leaders of the organization is Mr. Forkle, who has many identities. They have just seen on the form that his full name is Errol Loki Forkle.

“Loki,” Sophie repeated, tempted to roll her eyes. “You named yourself after the Nordic trickster god?” “Actually, he was inspired by me. Do not credit me for the insane stories humans made up-especially that one about the stallion. But as I said, I’ve always been partial to that part of the world, and in my younger days I may have had a bit too much fun there. It was so easy to take on disguises and cause a little chaos. And over time my escapades morphed into the stories of a shape-shifting trickster god. So I thought it only fitting, as I assumed yet another disguise, that I accept the title officially as part of my new identity.”

I chose this quote because I thought it was funny that this very strict character literally just finished warning the kids about following the rules at Exilium and then we find out that he is Loki. It also got me curious about the stallion thing. DO NOT LOOK IT UP!

I am currently reading Keeper of the Lost Cities: Neverseen which is a book about a girl named Sophie and her friends who all live in the lost cities. The lost cities are made up of elves with special abilities and the cities are built mostly from jewels and crystals. It is a place of peace, with no prejudice against skin color, or wealth, or religion. Everyone gets a birthfund (5 million lusters (one luster is equal to about 1 million dollars)) when they are born, and everyone lives in large mansions and has an infinite lifetime. The lost cities have been the perfect society for millions of years, but things are now unravelling when groups of secret rebels are being formed to try and “fix” the flaws in their society. The Neverseen are the bad guys and the Black Swan are the good guys. One of the characters is a prankster named Keefe who has terrible and emotionally abusive parents, he just found out that his mom is one of the leaders of the Neverseen. He and his friends are all fleeing to the black swan and are sitting in the foyer of someone’s house right before they leave and are all telling one of the adults things to tell their parents like “I love you” or “Don’t worry”. Then comes Keefe’s turn.

“Tell my dad… that I’ve been hiding his favorite cape in a closet one the twenty-ninth floor. But don’t tell him the door is rigged with gulon gas. Let him find that out on his own.”

For a little more context elves wear capes as a sign of status and Keefe live in a building with 200 floors, and gulons are REALLY stinky toad-like creatures.

Wonder is a sad and happy story about a kid named Auggie  who was grown up with a disease that makes his face look different then others. He was homeschooled his hole life up until middle school. His parents eventually decided to send him to middle school and  he goes through lots of hate he gets bullied to the point where he needs to wear a astronaut helmet to school. He ends up making a couple real friends and in the end of the book people accept him for who he is and don’t just judge off his looks. Its a very happy ending which ties the hole story together. “I wish every day could be Halloween,” he says (p. 73). This quotation talks about how he likes to be hidden in a costume because that’s when he feels most confident when people cant see his face and don’t just know him for the kid with the weird face. He fits in with everyone and doesn’t feel different or left out. This book is great i highly recommend for everyone to read it. I feel it is mostly a message for kids to understand looks are not everything. Also that You should not judge a book by its cover.

I have now finished reading The Song of Achilles. Overall, I thought it was a great book and I believe the author, Madeline Miller, did an excellent job in capturing the essence of the book and was able to bring the characters to life, which allowed me to visualize the narrative in my mind clearly, Throughout reading, I experienced a range of emotions making it very moving and although the story had a tragic ending I thought it was beautifully written and it has now become one of my favourite books and one that I would definitely recommend to those who enjoy books that are emotional, detailed and inspired by mythology.

“Everything is in the way it is, and no one will change it, no matter how hard we try.”

 

Bones & All by Camille DeAngelis is a story about Maren Yearly, who is a teenager with an uncontrollable urge to eat people she loves. Maren tries to figure out her past and herself, while the novel talks about loneliness, emotional depth, and identity.

Maren’s relationship with her mother is talked about in the book, as it shows the pain of her being abandoned, and the trouble of her being different. Maren finds it hard when she wants to connect with others but fearing the harm she might do to them.

During the story, Maren forms a relationship with another cannibal named Lee. Their bond grows through the story, even though their relationship is built ontheir need to eat each other.

“I want you to eat me, bones and all,” she said, her voice trembling, and I felt it like a shudder in my chest. She didn’t want to be alone anymore, didn’t want to carry the weight of it all by herself. It wasn’t just about hunger. It was about the connection, the need to feel something other than the gnawing emptiness inside us. And in that moment, I wasn’t sure if I was the one who needed to eat her, or if she needed to consume me.”

This quotation shows the complicated but deep connection between Maren and Lee, leading into their mutual dark desires and deep emotional need for each other. It’s about wanting to be consumed, both physically and emotionally, as a way to find meaning in a relationship.

The story Once in a Full Moon starts with a girl Celeste Parker who lives in a small town by Legends Run. Her life turned around when a dare from Nash (Celeste’s boyfriend). To go to Legends Run and get her fortune told, a spine-chilling fortune was read and under the moon, something terrible would happen. Celeste pumps into Brandon while just barely escaping a pack of wolfs

“Are you… okay?” It was the first thing he asked.
“Am I okay? I wasn’t the one fighting a pack of wolves.”
Brandon tossed the branch into the woods. It was then a few dark red drops fell into the lily white snow.
“You’re bleeding!” I said, pointing to the red stains.
“What?” He didn’t even look at his hand. “What are you doing… here?” he asked. He was still running on adrenaline.
“You’ve been hurt,” I said. “We should get you to a doctor.”
He raised his hand. Drops continued to fall into the snow.
“You need to have that looked at,” I said. “You might need stitches.”
“It’s nothing,” he said.
“You could have rabies,” I warned.
“I’m fine.”
“Can I see?” I asked.
“Uh… sure.”

CH7 PG 45

I chose this book to read because this book caught my attention last year and this refreshes my mind about what happened in the book

A Good Girls Guide to Murder, by Holly Jackson, is about a girl named Pippa Fitz-Amobi is in high school and has to chose a project for her senior year graduation credit. She chooses to solve a closed case of a murder in her small town that she thinks should not be closed. The following quote is from page 19, chapter 2.

“When you ask people in town what happened to Andie Bell, they’ll tell you without hesitation: ‘She was murdered by Salil Singh.’ No ‘allegedly,’ no ‘might have,’ no ‘probably,’ no ‘most likely.’ He did it, they say. Sal Singh killed Andie. But I’m just not so sure.” (p.19)

In this quotation Pip is saying how she really thinks that Salil did not kill Andie and that the town is wrong, therefore she will be trying to “solve” the case herself while not getting into the actual case as that could be dangerous. After she figures out that she might be on to something and others involved in the case see this too she begins to contact the police about reopening this case. The whole town is convinced that Salil killed his girlfriend Andie Bell, but even the police case says that they are “almost certain”. 

Over christmas, I read the alchemist by Paulo Coelho. This book is about a boy named Santiago who a young, adventurous shepherd. He has a recurring dream that troubles him. In the dream, he is told, by a child, to seek treasure at the foot of pyramids in egypt. He goes to a gypsy to interpret what this dream meant. On one of his journeys to a small town, he meets a man called Melchizedek. He tells him that it is his personal legend to go to the pyramids. On his way to the pyramids, he gets robbed, works for a year, and learns many life lessons as he does so. Santiago falls in love with a girl named Fatima, in an oasis, but has to leave her to pursue his personal legend. He meets the alchemist who teaches him an important life lesson, and he continues his journey. He gets to the pyramids and begins to dig where he thought the treasure would be, but he gets beat up and left half dead. one of the men tell him about his dream that he gave up on. he says that there is a treasure hidden under a sycamore tree next to an abandoned church in Spain.

“…every blessing ignored becomes a curse. I don’t want anything else in life. But you are forcing me to look at wealth and at horizons that I have never known. Now that I have seen them, and now that I see how immense my possibilities are, I’m going to feel worse than I did before you arrived. Because I know the things I should be able to accomplish, and I don’t want to do so.” pg 29

This quote means that if you ignore what has been put in your path, it will come back to haunt you. The Merchant’s eyes were opened to the possibilities of his dreams, so he was given the zeal to do them.

In Bob Harig’s book Tiger and Phil, it explores one of the biggest and best rivalry’s. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are two of the best golfers to play the game and will forever go down in history. Tiger has two kids, Sam and Charlie. Sam is 17 and she is following in her dads footsteps by going to study at Stanford university next year but she does not play golf. On the other hand he has a son named Charlie and he is 15. Charlie is a very good golfer and plays in many tournaments around the United States. Phil has 3 kids and none of them are as interested in golf as he ever was. These two men have always had a rivalry as they were always winning back and forth. While Tiger woods is a little more famous and has won more events and majors, they are still both very good.

He greatest thing about tomorrow is, I will be better than I am today. And that’s how I look at my life. I will be a better golfer, I will be a better person, I will be a better father, I will be a better husband, I will be a better friend. That’s the beauty of tomorrow. (p. 96)

This is a quote the Tiger woods had stated in an interview after shooting a 63 in a major. Tiger is said to be one of the greatest of all time or the greatest. Tiger always valued day after day and was proud if himself even if he didn’t have a good day on the course. The book explains the details of both their games, compares and contrasts both players and shows how they live their life in and out of the game.

This book is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It was written by J.K Rowling. In this part of the book Harry Potter and his friends Ron, Hermione and Xenophilius are trying to find out what the Deathly Hallows is after doing research in the library they find a story on the Deathly Hallows.

“That very night, another wizard crept upon the oldest brother as
he lay, wine-sodden, upon his bed. The thief took the wand and, for good measure, slit the oldest brother’s throat. “And so Death took the first brother for his own (p.333).

I chose this quotation because I found it interesting how Rowling makes the brothers get what they have wanted even though they were not good people. And later they face their consequences. For the oldest brother he got the elder wand which was the most powerful wand and even though he was the most powerful it put a target on his back. This was the oldest brothers consequence.

The Science of Self-discipline is a new book that I have been reading for a couple weeks now. It is written by Peter Hollins a human psychology researcher who is best known for his work on practical strategies on self-improvement, psychology, and personal development. He works with and teaches people how to unlock their potential and how to achieve success in life and he has put all of his teachings and research into this book. In this part of the book he is explaining Aristotle’s Theory of Motivation. Aristotle is a famous philosopher who created the original guides to human motivation. In this part he says how you should know what are the better motivations and to chose them over the negative motivations.

It’s up to you to be disciplined enough to avoid and resist negative motivations and to have a clear understanding of the positive motivators that can help you maintain self-discipline. (p. 47)

This quotation means that it is the person’s choice to know and be Disciplined enough to resist any negative motivations or habits that could affect them in the future like eating unhealthy foods or not doing work that you have. They have to have a good and clear understanding of the other positive things that will help them later on and to help them maintain self discipline. That is what he means in this quotation.

Perfume by Patrick Süskind it set in the 1800’s Paris. the main character of the book is named Jean-Baptiste Grenouille because of his gifts and sole ambition were restricted to a domaine that leaves no trace in history, the fleeting realm of scent. Where this story takes place it seems as if the whole world smells, the river stunk, the market stunk, the churches stunk, the people stunk, everything smelt awful even the king himself stunk. The king like a rank lion and the queen an old goat. the worst stench in the city was between the rue aux fers and the rue de la ferronnerie. for 800 years people had been brining dead bodies here to be hidden or disposed of. on July 17th 1738 Grenoullie was born, it ended being the hottest day of the year when he was born, his mother worked at a fish stand in the market when she was in labor and just wanted the pain to leave quickly. Grenoullie was one of 5, she wanted the birth to be over when the final contraction came she squared over and gave birth to Grenoullie. His mother bent down with a butchers knife to cut the cord but under the heat she passed out while people crowded around her

by stander 1 – what happened to her

by stander 2 – nothing

by stander 3 – what is she doing with the knife

by stander 2 – nothing

by stander 3 – where’s the blood on her skirt coming from

          by stander 2 – the fish

I chose this quote because its one of the only conversation in the first 2 pages of the book that I’ve read

Kathleen Glasgow’s fictional book Girl in Pieces explores themes of trauma, recovery, and self-discovery. The story follows 17-year-old Charlotte “Charlie” Davis, a girl who has experienced immense pain, including the death of her father, her mother’s neglect, and losing her best friend to suicide. Struggling to cope, Charlie turns to self-harm as a way to manage her emotional turmoil. After a particularly traumatic event lands her in a mental health facility, Charlie embarks on a journey to rebuild her life. She relocates to Tucson, Arizona, where she begins working at a coffee shop. There, she meets an eclectic group of people, including Blue, a tough yet supportive co-worker, and Riley, her brooding but troubled boss. These relationships become pivotal in her journey toward healing.

You think you know someone in the sunlight, but you don’t. There’s something about the dark that makes people lie. You can see their faces but not their hearts. You can hear their words but not their thoughts. And sometimes the dark makes us strangers to ourselves, too. (p.178)

I chose this quotation because It is something I think about constantly. You truly never know what someone is feeling or thinking. You think you know someone when, in reality, they could be the complete opposite of what you think they are like.

Out of My Mind, written by Sharon M. Draper, is a meaningful and powerful story that follows the life and struggles of a twelve-year-old girl, Melody Brooks. Melody has photographic memory, making it feel like her head is “recording” The novel offers a deep dive into the world of a non-verbal child, providing a well understanding and exploration of her internal thoughts, frustrations, and even dreams. The book emphasizes the importance of making awareness to inclusion, and the capabilities of individuals with disabilities. Through Melody’s journey, Draper portrays how society often underestimates the potential of people with any physical disability.

Words have always swirled around me like snowflakes-each one delicate and different, each one melting untouched in my hands.

Deep within me, my words pile up in huge drifts. Mountains of phrases and sentence is a connected idea. Clever expressions. Jokes. Love songs.

From the time I was little-maybe just a few months old-words were like sweet, liquid gifts, and I drank them like lemonade. I could almost taste them. They made my jumbled thoughts and feelings have substance. My parents have always blanketed me with conversation they chattered and babbled. They verbalize and vocalize. My father saying to me. My mother whispered her strength into my ear.

Every word my parents spoke to me or about me I absorbed and kept and remembered. All of them.

I have no idea how entangled the complicated process of words and thought, but it happened quickly and naturally. By the time I was two, all my memories and all my words had meanings.

But only in my head. I’ve never spoken one single word.

I am almost twelve years old. ( p.284)

This quotation speaks to the inside of Melody’s mind, her wanting for communication, and the isolation she must experiences because of the disconnect between her thoughts and her inability to speak. It really highlights both the beauty and the anger of being unable to share your thoughts with the world.

This book is Gone by Micheal Grant. This book is first in the series of 10 books and the story is set in fictional Southern California town of Perdido Beach, in which every human is aged 15 and older. when the book begins all of the 15 year olds start to vanish from a small town, leaving only the children and teens behind.  As the children struggle to stay alive, some of them start to develop dangerous and supernatural powers. The quotation that I chose to do is about when drake starts to get violent when he attacks (hits) Orc.

Sam jumped into help his friend, but Drake was quicker. He stopped behind Orc, grabbed him by the hair yanked his head back, and smashed his elbow into Orcs face. Blood poured from Orcs nose and he howled in rage(p.174).

I chose this quotation because it really puts an image in your and this also reminds me of one of my favourite movies.

 

 

Beloved by Toni Morrison is about a woman whose name is Sethe. She escaped slavery and lives in Cincinnati with her daughter, Denver, in a house that is haunted by the ghost of her dead baby. Sethe’s past is full of pain, and the ghost reminds her of the terrible things she went through. 

One day, a man named Paul D, who is someone Sethe knew from the Sweet Home plantation shows up. His presence makes her feel less lonely, but also brings back memories of when she was a slave.

Counting on the stillness of her own soul, she had forgotten the other one: the soul of her baby girl. Who would have thought that a little old baby could harbor so much rage? Rutting among the stones under the eyes of the engraver’s son was not enough.

Through flashbacks, the book explains the horrible things that happened to Sethe during slavery and how she escaped. It talks a lot about things like motherhood, trauma, and how hard it is to move on from the past. The story shows how love can be powerful but also painful, especially when tied to such a terrible history.

currently i am reading The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller a novel inspired by the events of Iliad written by Homer currently in the novel  Achilles and Patroclus are heading to the Trojan War where achiless has been destined to fufil his duty as a great soldier along with patroculos who has chosen to come with him to the war.

“This is what Achilles will leave us, I thought. A story told by our children’s children.”

This line captures the duty and power achiless has and the role he is expected to fufill and foreshadows the longlasting legacy he will leave behind.

 

I have been reading the book INSURGENT by Veronica Roth. Insurgent picks up right after the events of Divergent, with Tris prior and Tobias Eaton on the run after the attack on the Abnegation faction, by the Erudite faction. The story follows their journey through a fractured society where trust is very hard to find and alliances are fragile. Tris is struggling with the aftermath of her parents deaths, the betrayal of her own faction, and the weight of the choices she has made. As she navigates the political tension between factions, she uncovers dangerous secrets, confronts her own fears, and accepts her identity as a Divergent.

“There are so many ways to be brave in this strange world. sometimes bravery involves laying down your life for something bigger than yourself, or for someone else. sometimes it involves giving everything up have ever known, or everyone you have ever loved, for the sake of something greater. But sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes it is nothing more than gritting your teeth through pain, and the work of every day, the slow walk toward a better life. (p.128)”

This quotation said by Tris, is talking about how the world is a weird, confusing, and scary. She mentions how in life you need to be brave no matter what circumstances; If its for a friend, family member, or someone you have loved. You need to slowly keep pushing forward and going on with life, through any  challenges for a better way of living.

secrets of sable island is a story written off the coast go Halifax Nova Scotia famous for its ship wreaks and its wild horses. Caleb Mackean lives in a lodge with norse who saved him after he was washed off board of a ship, Caleb eventually makes a friend Marin who is struggling to take care of his sick mother and her cruel father who wants to take her back tot he main land and send her to a conversion school to teach her some manners.

Rodney – so thats what you’ve been sneaking off to gallivanting around up to God knows what when you should’ve been back taking care of your mother! go home and pack. we’re leaving on the supply ship tomorrow …the whole family!

marine  but mother docent want to leave!

Rodney – don’t defy me girl I’ve made up my mind. I should’ve put your mother in the hospital and you and that  convent months ago!

the family slowly begins to fall apart after Rodney lost his leg during a rescue and tends to take it out on his daughter and the others around him while his wife tries to fight it even though she’s in critical condition

 

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is a classic novel exploring themes of love, class, family, and personal growth. Set in early 19th-century England, the story centers on the complex relationship between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy. Elizabeth initially views Darcy as arrogant and proud, while Darcy sees Elizabeth as beneath him socially. Over time, they both learn to see past their first impressions.

“I have faults enough, but they are not, I hope, of understanding. My temper I dare not vouch for. It is, I believe, too little yielding— certainly too little for the convenience of the world. I cannot forget the follies and vices of other so soon as I ought, nor their offenses against myself. My feelings are not puffed about with every attempt to move them. My temper would perhaps be called resentful. My good opinion once lost, is lost forever.” (pg. 52)

In this quotation, Darcy admits he has flaws, but he believes his judgment and intelligence are sound. This suggests a self-awareness but also a sense of pride in his insight and intellect. He acknowledges that he is stubborn and inflexible, perhaps unwilling to conform to societal expectations or to compromise easily. This inflexibility can be seen as both a flaw and a mark of personal integrity. I picked this quotation because I think it is realistic since not everyone is perfect.

The science of Self Discipline is a book made by Peter Hollins a bestselling author, human psychology researcher, and best known for is work on self defence. He has been studding about psychology and peak human performance for over a dozen years. He has helped and worked with numerous individuals to help them unlock their potential and to achieve success. He has put all of These teaching into his book called  The science of Self-Discipline. The book is about how to understand self-discipline, how to increase will power and motivation, and mindset. In this book Wille he is explaining the biological basis of self-discipline he says how you should focus on self-discipline when you are trying to achieve ling-term goals.

“Being disciplined in your pursuit of long-term goals is only possible if you can consistently focus on the decision and actions that lead to accomplishing those goals. Thus, it’s nearly impossible to achieve focus and self-discipline separately, as each is intertwined with the other.” (P23)

What he means is that when you are trying to achieve a long-term goal you have to keep focusing on the chooses and decisions you are making when your trying to achieve it. For example you can chose to go to the gym and work out or stay home and watch TV even if its for one day you have to focus on your goals and actions you do. you have to chose the right option and stay focused on what you are doing. That is what he means in this quote.

For this quote on the champions mind by JIM AFROMOW. It is on chapter three, Be In It To Win It.  Jim is talking about how to be patient and to let the play come to you. He calls this part PACE, DONT RACE which means don’t try to speed up or rush to what’s going on when you feel pressure but to stay calm and be on the same pace as the play that is going on. In this part he says what you should do if you are going to fast and making errors.

“when things go wrong or you feel pressure increase, everything usually speeds up-your walking pace, rate of speech, and so on. If your inclination is to rush, remind yourself to slow it down in order to avoid making errors.”(P72)

What he means is when you mess something up, make an error, or start to fell pressure you will start to speed up and rush. which could lead mistakes and if you are in a tournament finals you cannot make mistakes or that will cost you a game or the lead. you have to slow down and remind your self no to rush and to stay on the same pace as the play that is going on. If you do that it will be easier to play and to avoid mistakes. That is what he means in this chapter.