Like 'The Blind Side' but Better

What a charming, uplifting story this is: Two teen-aged javelin throwers, one the son of a truck driver, the other a construction worker, from Uttar Pradesh win a contest called 'Million Dollar Arms', are flown to LA, train with the USC, sign with the Pittsburg Pirates, and meet Obama!

On Reading and Writing

Some fascinating stories on book publishing have found their way to me via my Twitter feed.

1. Julie Barer represents Helen Simonsen, the author of Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, a book I loved and suggest you place at the top of your summer reading list. She says, 'It's unrealistic to expect that you can support yourself solely as a writer in this economy.'

2. Andrew Wylie represents everyone else. He says, 'I'm not interested in mass culture. When I started out I saw nine out of 10 people heading for the door marked Money, Commerce, Trash. So I chose the door marked Quality. Interest. Significance…'

3. Miguel Syjuco, author of Illustrado, was rejected by dozens of agents and publishers before his book won the Man Asia Literary Prize in 2009. He used to support himself by buying designer purses at sample sales and selling them on eBay. He also rented himself out as a medical guinea pig in psychological experiments.

4. Author Hanif Kureishi has this to say about new writing from India: 'It has run out of inspiration now. There’s a lot of pretty girls who go to American universities and write about their mums and dads. I think the whole thing has become really boring now. And I think we are beginning to look at Russia and Africa and China for new writing.'

5. And lastly, the writer Omair Ahmad pokes some gentle fun at our obsession with literary festivals.

Outsourcing, the Ad

An organization describing itself as 'independent' and 'pro business' attacked Senate candidate Lt. Gov. Bill Halter of Arkansas, with this ad. It suggests that Halter's politics have benefited India and Indians rather than job-seeking Americans. I was particularly taken by the American accents of the so-called Bangaloreans. Funny, offensive, or neither? (Correction above). Update: Blanche Lincoln, Halter's opponent for the nomination, has distanced herself from the organization, calling the ad 'offensive'. According to this report, Halter's relationship to WebMethods Inc., a company where he once served on the board of directors, cut costs by increasing the number of product development staff based in Bangalore. Its filings, however, do not refer to the loss of any American jobs in connection with opening the Bangalore office.