Totally, you can do it. But the book is so huge that you will miss most of the details. However, you can use it as reference. First follow the ray tracing in one weekend to get the overall idea of path tracing. Then you can start with PBRT.
As for language of choice, anything will be fine. The book will build up a solid foundation. The only thing that can stop you is the amount of frustration which you may face when not figuring out the things. It can be confusing at times, but please give your time and let it sink in. After sometimes, you can review it with a completely fresh eyes and you may fix a lot of issues!
As for language of choice, anything will be fine. The book will build up a solid foundation. The only thing that can stop you is the amount of frustration which you may face when not figuring out the things. It can be confusing at times, but please give your time and let it sink in. After sometimes, you can review it with a completely fresh eyes and you may fix a lot of issues!
Goodluck!