I know what you mean about the star charts...I just started an astronomy hobby recently. Actually, the best place to get started is in a big city by naked eye. Here is a star chart that you can change the viewing options, to make the chart much simpler http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/kids/activities-nightsky-usa.cfm. (uncheck “deep sky”, uncheck “outlines” and “boundaries” for the constellations, uncheck “Bayer/Flamsteed” codes). I have the chart show me only stars with magnitudes of 3.5 or higher. Anything more than that, the chart has too many things to look it. At 3.5, it corresponds with what I can actually see from my urban area.
The first constellation you need to find is Orion. It is by far the easiest constellation in the sky to find. You will see three bright stars in a row (Orions belt) with a bright star on top (Betelgeuse) and a bright one on the bottom (Rigel). From there you need to find Procyon, which is to the “left” of Betelgeuse....keep toggling “left” and you will run into Leo and Saturn. The comet should be a tick below Saturn. Saturn is about twice the distance from Procyon as Procyon is from Betelgeuse.
Thank you.