The book “Now Is the Time for Running” was reviewed and discussed on Wednesday, January 23, 2019, at the Rayzan Cultural Center in Niavaran, Tehran.
Organized by Cheshmeh Publishing and hosted by Sina Dadkhah, a writer and cultural activist, the event focused on the acclaimed work by Michael Williams, translated by Vahid Namazi and published by Cheshmeh Publishing, which quickly reached its second print. The panel discussed the book, exploring themes of poverty, migration, and their impact on human lives.
The cultural program was attended by a group of book enthusiasts and regular readers, with Siamak Rahmani, a veteran senior journalist, and Navid Pourmohammadreza, a critic, university professor, and cultural activist, also present. They engaged in a dialogue with Vahid Namazi, the translator, sharing their perspectives on “Now Is the Time for Running” and the impact of poverty on migration in various societies.
Siamak Rahmani, with a long career in Iranian sports journalism, commended Vahid Namazi’s choice to translate Michael Williams’ work, stating: “Vahid Namazi, with his experience as a journalist at the first African World Cup in 2010, made a smart choice in selecting this book for translation. Africa, due to widespread poverty and deprivation, has always been a focus for cultural communities, and addressing this issue has opened the world’s eyes to a harsh reality. The beautiful and subtle connection between the book’s themes, its characters, football, and migration clearly shows that the translator made an apt choice to convey the book’s message to Iranian society.”
Continuing the program, Navid Pourmohammadreza noted: “Migration, as a theme with narrative and storytelling value, holds a special and almost constant place in literary and cinematic works. The occasional references by cultural activists have increasingly drawn societal attention to this issue. The narrative and non-fictional flow of this book, beyond addressing this topic, demonstrates that storytelling and conveying truth in a narrative form is a popular method among writers and readers for entering a world that oscillates between story and reality. Williams has beautifully managed this connection in the book, and Vahid Namazi’s fluent translation has successfully realized Michael Williams’ goal of delivering his message to the reader.”
Vahid Namazi, reflecting on his experiences in South Africa and his close encounters with the poverty prevalent in many deprived African countries, remarked: “When I saw that football plays a fundamental role in the protagonist’s journey from poverty to a better life, I was inspired to translate this work. I am delighted that my work has been well-received by readers and critics.”
