What is a good way to get introduced to the Vedas?

Factual Questions
1

I was thinking about the great works of ancient Hinduism and I realized I really couldn’t think much about them because I don’t know much. I don’t know exactly how to remedy this. Is it a good idea to just go down to the library and pick out a translation of the Vedas at random? Or is there a highly-recommended, annotated, well-introduced translation? Anything really outstanding?

How about the Upanishads? Is there any particular order in which someone should approach the great works of Hinduism?

2

Try to read the Mahabarata. It is a history really. They also did a movie fairly accurately based on it. I took a lit class that focused on mythology, primarily thorugh the Mahabarata.