Status Updates From Zlatý osel

The book's formula is pretty tired at this point. Lucius gets captured/sold, mistreated in some terrible way by his new owner, and then he hears some crazy story that takes up half or longer of the chapter. Rinse and repeat ad nauseum. I'll be hoping that Apuleius learns a thing or two from writing this before his next book comes out!!

Was it just a regular part of ancient literature to just completely abandon the story and tell a random ahh story for 30% of the book!?