Take time to read these five books.
It was slow going for me, had to stop and find out the meaning of many words. From the sentence, knew what it meant but wanted to understand better.
Every one of them had great discussions, made me think long and hard. First World War, effects in Europe and culture of living, family and difference between upper class and others. All five books of the main male character has his problems with alcohol and his relationships. Last book "The Last Tycoon" was unfinished, he definitely knew he was going to die. Finish and published by his friend Edmund Wilson.
Reading these books show me how much American English language changed and story can be written without f..k words. But if you object N word, it was the word used at that time.