Ham on Rye, by Charles Bukowski, is the prequel to Post Office and makes a nice tryptic with Post Office and Women. It follows the early life, up to about his 21st year, of Bukowski’s alter ego, Henry Chinasky.
The writing is great as always with Bukowski, but the subject matter is a little different since so much of this takes place before he starts drinking, although soon enough the drinking, fighting, and womanizing start. He’s just not as seasoned as he would be in his middle age.
Like I’ve said before, I get why his novels would make someone uncomfortable or to dislike them, but I love his writing and the world he creates of degenerates and losers.