Always start with limit.
Also, you're on a Sklansky-sponsored website and asking this question:
"Where to start though? Are there any good books that could do the majority of the ground work for me?"
Sklansky's Hold 'Em Poker and Theory of Poker are the two most solid books in terms of understanding the fundamentals and starting out playing right. Go to Caro's book of tells for fundamental live game help.
Combine that with some on the felt (online makes this so easy) tutorials and starting hand criteria, which I would simplify from Sklansky's hand buckets to start.
Also, multi-table tournaments are better playing education than cash due to premiums placed on not busting and the limited downside aspect.