I read this book first as a teenager and I still find it amusing and strangely compelling.

However...I know of no person other than the author who would use the word "balk" in its various forms so darned frequently! It was repetitive to the point that I had to consider that the author may have intended its use as a joke on the reader- but I don't think so. If you can get beyond this minor detail, the book is really worth a read.