The Crying Of Lot 49???

So I made it through the first 79 pages and that is an understatement. I believe I only comprehended 30-38 pages give or take a few. I feel like I have a love/hate relationship with this book and I also believe that Thomas Pynchon may be completely out of his mind. 

I like to give books a fair read before I decide if I like them or not, and I'm definitely keeping my mind open to this book, I think my main problem with it so far is all of the obscure references. huh? 


I guess my big question is just why is this book important? 


It must serve some purpose or be the answer to some quest for the Holy Grail? Maybe? 
I suppose it's important to always read new things and keep your mind sharp...oh that's totally it! I think the purpose of The Crying Of Lot 49, is to make the reader think! 








This is not some calm, smooth, uneventful story we're dealing with. You drift off for a second and you miss everything. I found myself enjoying chapter 2 and 3 the most, because I could actually follow what was happening. After I read the first 9 pages, I thought I was a goner! But then I remembered the blog on how to read Pynchon, and I gave it another attempt.


I guess my main question is...What the hell is going on? 


I was fine up until Oedipa and Metzsger left the hotel room with the Paranoids, then I just got completely and utterly lost. I've been keeping my eye out for the references to lots, and wondering what Lot 49 is? 
I think at this point it has something to do with the WASTE symbol, but I could be completely wrong. 


Someone Please Enlighten this girl! (I usually read nothing but non-fiction)