Welcome Hollylib
I'm knew as well, but have read a lot of the posts here and on the blog on top of my own research and can give you my take on it. As far as I can tell most extracts are mild at best if they work at all. A lot of people have a hard time getting the pills to work for them and most of the time end up feeling nothing or the feeling is to weak to know whether it really is the pills or its a placebo. The people who do get it to work seem to take more than the dosage instructed to take in order to get it to work. So like if the pill box said to only take 2 at a time they would take 6 and then feel some mild effects. The truth is though that the majority agree that kava extract pills are useless and not the way to truly experience the strength of Kava. The only extract that I have seen that gets really good feedback is Paradise Kavas C02 kava Extract which is not in a pill form, but a sort of gel paste that you take a pea sized amount and place under your tongue and allow to melt. If you do not let it melt under your tongue and just directly ingest the extract it appears that it doesn't work very well which could explain why pills are so ineffective. It seems to not allow for the proper absorption you need.
If you really want to try Kava, but don't want to spend to much you could try instant kavas from Vanuatu Kava Store, Nakamal@Home and islandkava.com. They all have great instants to start with from what I've read and if you google around for coupons can bring down the price more. The cost effectiveness of this route will probably lead to more success then pills. For example I usually just drink 2 tsp per water bottle and can get some pretty good effects, if I want it stronger I drink another bottle then I'll be set for about an hour before it wears off. Yes instants don't seem to last long either, but its a combination of that with the reverse tolerance effects. (At least I believe thats what it is. Its been getting stronger the more I use it, but not so much stronger)
I myself have decided to break down and soon make my first purchase of actual dried kava root because I'm sure that as many can tell you here nothing beats the original.
If you want to really experience kava I suggest you forget about the pills, skip over the instants, and head straight to the dried root. Or at the very least start with a good instant (but even then it wont be close to the original). I kinda wished that my first purchase was actual dried root, but its a learning process. If your worried about cost you can get a pound of dried root from Kava By Rex (Tongan Pride I hear is good and Vanuatu3 when they have it) for $25 or from Bulakavahouse which has some a really good selection at good prices, 1/4kilo for $20 on some. I see the pills on ebay and it looks like its $20 for a bottle of 60 pills. Thats the same cost as 1/4kilo from Bula Kava House, add another 5 dollars and you can get a full pound from Kava By Rex. After that I'm sure you have some small bowls at home and get some pantyhose for really cheap to strain the kava and your all set.
TIA for any and all responses!