book where the narrator analyzes characters and situations philosophically

Hi, I’m looking for a book where the narrator analyzes characters and situations philosophically – like John Steinbeck’s East of Eden , or Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.

For example.. if a character stirs his cup before drinking a cup of water… it’s not just an action and the narrator associates it with the character’s compulsive behaviour to disturb tranquility because it makes him anxious …or something like that😂

Maybe something like a mix between fiction and philosophical prose??