The way this book breaks the rules of literary realism in order to draw the reader into the lives and experiences of Hal Incandenza (brilliant young lexical and tennis prodigy) and Don Gately (former burglar and recovering Demerol addict) is the most profound piece of fiction I have read in my life and I have read many, many, books.
This book has been called a destroyer of book clubs and yet, the best way to read it is in a group. I am working on my second reading, this time with PoorYorick's Summer at wordpress. Many lit majors actually do their theses on this book AND yet, when I have a real question (why does the little girl on page 514 start talking like an adult?), the PhD kiddies just disappear. ;)