new camera

So I got my new camera home, put in the card, put the battery on to charge, attached the strap and then packed it away till last night when the battery was ready. Got it out ot have a play and I have NO idea how to work it, sat reading the book but cannot figure out how to change the shutterspead etc, so my photos are awful! Not a good start but I know once I get the setting right it'll work beautifully!!