Stunning Digital Photography

I know some people have strong opinions about Tony Northrup (and fair enough, he can be a bit much sometimes), but I think his intro book Stunning Digital Photography is honestly a very good primer, and it's all of $14 for hard copy ($10 for the Kindle version). It gives you the basics on everything from lighting to different styles/subject matter (e.g. landscapes vs. portraits vs. events and so on) to trouble shooting when things go wrong (blurry pictures, too much noise, etc.). If you work your way through that book (or something similar), you'll have a solid understanding of the basics and can embark on whatever kind of artistic journey calls to you. Best of luck!