There are some hilarious and memorable scenes that make it a classic for me. Things like the Banana Breakfast were laugh out loud moments for me. As for being

There are some hilarious and memorable scenes that make it a classic for me. Things like the Banana Breakfast were laugh out loud moments for me. As for being influenced by psychedelics, it seems plausible. Lots of scenes are portrayed in a way where you can't distinguish what is reality and what is a dream/hallucination/whatever else it might be that Pynchon has in mind. The shifting perspectives across characters within a scene and the continuous struggle to figure out what's happening, what's really happening, and what's a dream can make for a challenging read. Overall I found it an enjoyable read but I can understand it's not for everyone (but that's Pynchon in general - you either love him or his books are an unpleasant slog).