Some fragments are written based on the stories that the author is interested in. They are not a continuous novel. Each chapter is a new story, with joy and sorrow, and various styles. You don't need to know too much. I just hope that a certain story, a certain action in a certain article, or a certain sentence or a certain character can move you.
There is no need to start from the beginning, just look at the table of contents and see which one you like, just open it.
Of course the author is a scumbag... Please give me a light blow?