Great advice given so far . Very important to consider gun safety as you start this journey , local gun shops/ranges are an excellent place to try out different calibers and styles of pistols . I am 60 years old and started shooting when I was 15 and still consider myself a novice due to not spending a lot of range time the past 20 years plus . As the old saying goes practice , practice , practice .
I am a fan of revolvers for a novice or seasoned shooters . Simple to operate you point they go bang
. Easy to clean with really no disassembly to speak of . I like .357 because you can shoot cheaper .38 to hone your skills . Or you can load up with .357 hollow points and you are now a zombie killer
. Buying guns in my opinion is no different than buying tools , you have to feel comfortable with them and know how to use them to safely operate them . For hand guns you have to consider the weight , how the handle fits your hands , the sights , operating a safety if it has one there is a lot going on in a small space . That's why range time before purchase is money well spent .
In the end please be a responsible and safe gun owner . They can provide endless enjoyment but can create instant nightmare if handled improperly . Have fun and enjoy the journey to ownership .