Plot or no Plot? That is the question

I have just finished reading book 1 and so far this book has a plot much different than that of other books. Ordinary books have a story line in which conflict rises and rises throughout the story and there is usually purpose in the story. However, with The Sun Also Rises, there seems to be very little purpose. The central conflict seems to be Jake's wound and his relationship with Brett, but that is about it. He just goes through life and meets up with friends and drinks as if there was no tomorrow. Moreover, there is no rising action as other books traditionally have. No other complications in conflict occur because of his wound. It just seems to be continuous pain for Jake and his inability to be with Brett, but nothing more ever comes out of it. Jake never tries much to do anything about it either when he very much could. For example, when the count comes with Brett to Jake's hotel in chapter 7 on page 60, Brett offers to send the count away but he replies by saying, "No. He's nice." However, I think that the author wants to make it appear as if they have no true purpose in life.