I remember expecting to trudge through some heavy stuff, and how delighted I was with what I found. It is one of those books that make it clear how little "postmodern" has to do with a historical position. I haven't read it in 10 years, though. It is probably due a reread.

I am a little curious what definition you operate with when you say it is "not strictly speaking a novel". It is, after all, often held up as one of the first examples of the novel.