Thomas Pynchon's "The Crying of Lot 49"

This week, we are beginning the novel "The Crying of Lot 49," written by Thomas Pynchon in 1966. Although we have, so far, only read the first chapter, it gives us an insight into the main character's life and the foreshadowing of the events to come in the book. So far, the plot of the story seems very dramatic. The opening of the novel begins with the main character, Oedipa, arriving at her house to find a letter. The letter informs her that her ex-boyfriend has died, and furthermore that she has been made the executor of the estate. The news of her ex's passing causes her to relive her former life with him and what it was like. We learn that he was a real-estate agent investor, with a very outlandish personality. She then realizes that she must pay her respects to him, and live out his will. We are then introduced to Oedipa's husband, who used to be a used-car salesman, but is now a DJ. Oedipa says about her husband that "he believed too much in the lot," referring to his used-car lot, and I think this is the connection with the title of the novel.  Later in the chapter, Oedipa's doctor, creatively named Dr. Hilarius, calls her early in the morning to lure her into trying a trial for a new drug. The timing of the encounter and the doctor's name are both suspicious and mysterious to me. Oedipa ultimately refuses the offer.  At the end of the chapter, Oedipa's thoughts return back to those of her late ex-boyfriend, and the chapter ends with her pondering of their relationship. So far, this novel seems ultimately confusing to me, but I look forward to reading on to learn more and solve this mystery of a chapter.