Maybe the CC is a bit long winded for beginners, since you have to make a legible story line from all of ten cards and then some. I love it because it gives a great all encompassing pic, but it takes a while to read, too.

I would recommend using 5 card spreads or under and being creative in the layout depending on the question you want to ask. Usually, 4 or 5 card spreads are used in a cross shape, as the ones mentioned above, with the querent in the middle -it is useful to know what your real attitude is toward the question- and the others as past -usually to the left-; future -mostly to the right-; what's behind your motives or your unconscious -the lower card-; and what is before you or what you are clearly thinking about -the card above-.

For even quicker questions you can use 3 cards as past, present and future; or as what I have, what I am, what I want or can achieve... The variations are endless, depending on the question. Some people use 2 card spreads that sum up the situation or just tell you something you need to know right now. Others do not even decide how many cards they want: you can just shuffle till one or more fall out -they usually do- and then read them in connection to your situation and each other, if there are more than one.

It is true that, in order to be able to do this confidently, you first need to spend time with your cards and get to know each as a separate friend, like FutureVizions said. No shortcuts to perfection, I'm afraid!