I am reading "A Suitable Boy" by Vikram Seth

I am about halfway into "A Suitable Boy" and seem to spend a lot of time filling in at the computer looking at different clothes mentioned (kurta/dhoti/shalwar kameez), trees (pipal, neem, etc.) and different kind of paan. Hundreds of words and references don't really ruin the flow. He isn't a great writer, but the breadth of coverage of the minutiae of Indian life is wonderful. I am beginning to get a better feeling for the Hindu/Moslem differing lifestyles and feelings toward each other -- also various castes. I just read a part of the book where Lata, principal of many many characters, meets a man her mother likes very much, but Lata is put off because he is wearing "co-respondents shoes". I found a long exposition about that one on a review of the book at Amazon.com. If they put this 1400 pages book on a Kindle with a full glossary, I'd buy a Kindle. Definitely a book to read more than once. Sal is out for today's Singalong at Kenneth Aitken, so I am going to treat myself with a warm summer afternoon read. We had lots of fun Saturday watching the Cal Bears and yesterday the Niners, and loved seeing the Jets beat the Cowboys. Lots better when your favorites win!