Query

I'm reading Denis Johnson's Tree of Smoke right now, about 5o pages in. I'm not sure what to think.

Has anyone out there read it? What's it about? Where's it going? Who's it for? I find it hard to pay attention while I'm reading and don't know the source of that ADD. The characters are reasonably vivid and well drawn. Perhaps there are too many of them to keep track? In some of the drinking/dialogue scenes, I feel as confused as I do when I (foolishly) attend Happy Hours on Fridays at the local bar.

Since some of the novel is set in the Philippine jungles, I'm intrigued. Lizzie and I may be spending June-October of 2009 in Manila (the chances are about 90% right now, actually).