Status Updates From The Periodic Table

I don't understand why this is the first time I've ever heard of this book.

Besides the font being italics (publisher's or author's idea?) and hard for me to read, the story was a bit strange. A myth of sorts of a man chasing his destiny to be a lead (mineral) miner/merchant. All the while knowing it would poison him. Guess I'm supposed to see the meaning in the narrative. Liked the less fabled narratives better. So far anyway.

Not what I expected, and it requires more attention than some books, at least to get started. Beginning to understand how it's built now. First chapter was rather scattered. I had some difficulty following it. Next two went more smoothly. So have to think the first one was intended to be as it was.