I've liked Carey's writing from his earliest work. He has a number of writing styles, and this is one of his more idiosyncratic novels. I enjoyed the read, though its a big tome, and I confess I think the story here ran out of steam before the book finished. A shame, as the characters are well-drawn, and the tale of a French aristrocrat sent (against his will) to the nascent US was funny and compelling.
But in the end overlong and lost its way towards the close. I prefer Carey's more punchy works, such as 'Theft: A Love Story'.
He's still essentially a great writer though.