Yes, I do! Thanks for the correction. I knew it wasn’t quite the right word, but couldn’t find the right one.

I kind of feel that OP is cobbling themselves by starting with difficult novels that are somewhat difficult to relate to. I have no idea what most author’s lives were like, and why historical references are important. If I want to read at a deeper level, then I need to research a bunch of stuff, too. Because no one knows all the things, and you have to start somewhere.