Ok, I need to know - your advice/help required

[Civilian]

I have never even attempted to build my own pc, but out of boredom, I went to Newegg and started adding up all of the components I would need to build my "ideal" PC, and it totaled $2100 for a PC that would cost me $3000+ if I went through Alienware or one of these other prebuilt-screw you PC manufacturers.

My question is, on a scale from 1-10, taking into account as far as computer knowledge goes, I would be somewhere in the middle of novice and expert, can I build my own PC? I plan on picking up a book this week to use as a guide, but I am just worried that I will spend $2000 and not be able to complete it.

Any advice or recommendations would be helpful.

Thanks