Help with HTML Coding? (Beginner)?

I am trying to design my own website so I can move my site from a host to a more permanent and versatile location. I checked the book Dave's Quick 'n' Easy Web Pages out of the library and have been following the instructions inside. When I try to test my page it doesn't work. I tried typing a portion of his example code to test that and the sample code didn't work either. Any suggestions? Sites I can check out, articles or books to read, feedback on the book I already have? I don't need to get this site up any time soon and I still have no idea how to actually publish a site (meaning legalities, money, and other such things that would be involved) but I am getting frustrated with the coding.