A Matter of Length?

From a literary point of view, Barbary Shore fits best into a vignette, or maybe a flash fiction.  Technically neither of these really fit since, as a novel, the length exceeds what is typically expected from either of these genres.  However, all other elements considered, it does appear to cover most of the characteristics indicative of the aforementioned genres.  I would also say that it is infested with MacGuffins throughout the novel (though I don't consider this necessarily a bad thing, some may consider it a flaw in its storytelling).  These do tell us something when viewed from an existentialist's lens since this philosophical point of view focuses on the bigger picture of existence.  The things the characters worry about (Lovett's novel, the "things" Hollingsworth are after, even Lovett's amnesia) do not have any real explanation or relevance to the greater story.  I think the reason why is because in this, Mailers political thriller as it morphed into in the second half, these things do not really matter when put against the larger ideas brought up as storytelling conflicts (communism/trotskyism, reintegration, etc.).  I would also perpend the notion that this entire ordeal, living in the boarder house, is the "war" that he assumes to be a part of in the first sentence of the novel, and this is a reflection on that.  After all he does experience both a fair amount of psychological stress and backstabbing to a certain degree, which could be metaphorically reflective of the scars on his back and head.  All of this would come down to how long must these conflicts be endured before they are considered the main focus of our protagonist and the world which he resides.