I feel like if I'd have read this when it was first published I would have thought it was an excellent comment on culture.
As it was I found it a real struggle to relate to it. 
At its core I can see that it's objectively a good book, but i personally found it dated, which is weird but I think because it's set in recent(ish) modern times it just feels like looking at old pictures from the 80s and laughing at the perms and shoulder pads. 
It was most definitely character driven and honestly the characters were for the most part infuriating.