I'm reading Joker Year One... and I'm kind of lost!

Potential spoilers for lots of things.

I know what you're thinking... but yes, I did read Failsafe, The Bat-Man Of Gotham and Batman: The Knight (I really enjoyed that one). I'm familiar with the concept of Zur, Batman's backup identity and I've read The Killing Joke many times.

So I don't know if it's the writing that's the problem, or am I just not grasping what's going on. I think I'm about 60% of the way through this book and the time period keeps jumping back and forth (I think Batman's suit is the best indicator of this), and there's stuff that seems to be set in the present... I don't even know if that's happening in Bruce's head or an alternative timeline or what. The whole thing is really frustrating to follow.

Did anyone else have this issue, or am I just not good at following Chip's books?

(I probably should have finished the book before posting this, but I just need to get this off my shoulders)