The travelogue ‘Indecision’ is different and a document from the very first moments of the 12-day war

According to the reporter of the Iran Book News Agency (IBNA) in Ahvaz, Mansour Zabetian, on Thursday evening at the book signing and unveiling ceremony for his book “Indecision” at Maham Bookstore in Ahvaz, expressed hope that writing this book would lead to indecision leaving the lives of the people of this land. He stated: “Indecision” is a different travelogue and a document from the very first moments of the twelve-day war; it is about the difficult decision to stay or leave with companions who had come for me and were in doubt and indecision.

Zabetian continued: We made the difficult decision to return to Iran and were on the road for 45 hours by bus while Tehran was under missile attack by Israel, causing anxiety and distress for us.

He explained that the book “Indecision” is a report of a travel that was successful and according to plan until the very last moments, but suddenly everything changed. He stated: The story begins with a planned four-night, five-day trip to Istanbul from June 10 to June 14, 1404. Everything went according to plan until the evening of June 13, when the news of Israel’s attack on Iran changed the world of the author and his companions in an instant.

Zabetian said: I was preparing myself for the last day of the trip and tomorrow morning’s flight to Tehran when suddenly boom boom boom… Israel attacked Iran. In this different work, I write a report of a finished yet unfinished journey.

He continued: This report contains no history, geography, or social issues of the city I traveled to, but rather is mostly about how to return from that city.

Zabetian stated: For almost two years now, alongside my personal trips and trips for writing my books, I have also organized group trips that focus more on wandering in cities and living in them as locals do.

He emphasized: I had never presented a narrative of these trips before, and “Indecision” is considered the first work in this genre.

The author of the book “Marco Polo” explained: The book “Indecision” is a report of the difficult decision-making process in that critical situation where, after several pleasant days of experience, we faced special conditions between staying and leaving. This small book reports on those days of song and sorrow, days of text messages and anxiety.

Zabetian added: The main focus of the narrative is that perilous 45-hour land journey back to Iran.

The book ‘Indecision’ is a document of its time, written immediately after the main event

Zabetian emphasized this point: The book is a document of its time, written with minimal distance from the main event.

He said: I started writing the book during a period when Tehran was under the hardest Israeli attacks, and while I was writing, I had to stop work and take refuge between two walls of the house. The book’s conclusion also occurred under circumstances where, despite a ceasefire, the shadow of concern about its violation and the resumption of war continues.

He clarified: I published this book under conditions where I am mourning many of my compatriots who lost their lives innocently.

‘Indecision’ wishes for lasting peace for the world

He said: I dedicate the book “Indecision” with the hope of lasting peace for the world, that the world may never see war again, and that bombs will be only words in old dictionaries. With this hope that indecision will leave the lives of the people of this land.

Zabetian referred to the specific process of writing his books and said: In the book, it is only me and myself. Even in sad situations, I tried to find traces of joy.

He considered travel an inseparable part of his life and added: Travel leads to maturity and discovery of the world, and experiences of countries come in different forms. Sometimes a song or watching a documentary becomes a goal for travel, resulting in a book being published about them.

Zabetian compared the feeling of indecision during that trip and the difficult return to today’s general feeling in society and said: This is the same feeling that everyone has now because a person is somewhat indecisive in the world.

Change in travelogue format, not content

He explained about the nature of his writings: I absolutely do not write about anything that did not happen. Changes in travelogues are only in the form of presentation, not in the content. I always tell the audience that this is a personal narrative and a document of a specific era from my point of view. If I were to write politically or socially, it would go outside the bounds of reporting.

Regarding how audiences react to his previous books like “Mint Tea,” he said: The diversity of audiences is interesting to me. I only produce content, and everyone reads it according to their own taste. Each of my books is a part of my life. I write what I have discovered, and experience has taught me life is short and not worth grieving over.

Zabetian concluded by calling travelogues the result of restlessness and discovery and emphasized: Every person offers a better version of themselves through travel. I just write. My books have reached multiple printings, which shows they have an audience. Ultimately, all people everywhere in the world share in happiness and misery.