Project Azalea

In post-Katrina New Orleans, a single mother jeopardizes the safety of her friends and family as she fights crooked businessmen, her corrupt law firm, and a white supremacist group in a collision of race and greed. A chance discovery sets into motion events that will forever change the face of New Orleans and the lives of those fighting in the eye of the storm for freedom and equality.

Even the best intentions, though, can reap unintended consequences, and Prudence Jean-Batiste has learned this lesson the hard way. She should have left well enough alone. Now, no one is safe.

This Indie Author Corner and discussion guide was shared and sponsored in partnership with Dartfrog Books.

Book club questions for Project Azalea by J.E. Conery

Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.

Do you think Conery’s descriptions of real places and colloquialisms emblematic of Louisiana and Mississippi add to the richness of the story, or detract from its readability? Why?

Prudence is a private and fiercely independent soul. Given the adversity she faced throughout her life, do you think she waited too long to seek help when she discovered Project Azalea? When she finally did reach out to others, did she choose the right people? If not, who do you think she should have chosen instead?

Unlike Prudence, Theo’s hesitancy to seek help stems from his own insecurities. How might things have changed within the different storylines if he was more open with his feelings?

Prudence is pious, naïve, and prone to leaping before looking. Oscar is arrogant, scheming, and larger-than-life, yet others benefit from some of his character flaws. Are there any other characters who serve as foils to each other in this way? What are some ways that characters in this book are impacted by each other, either positively or negatively?

The book is full of contrasts: black/white, rich/poor, city/country, weak/powerful, honesty/deceit, good/evil. Which dichotomy resonates most with you? And did you notice any sub-divisions within these groups (for instance, an honorable character among the thieves within the UAK? a dishonorable character on Prudence’s sphere?)

In the book, can you identify the good people who do bad things? Or, the bad people who do good things? What about the bad people who do good things for a bad reason? Do the ends always justify the means even if one’s intentions aren’t pure?

In many ways, Project Azalea can be deemed a literary tragedy. Name at least one tragic character from each group (Prudence’s sphere, the law firm, the Leadership, the UAK) and discuss what makes them so.

Conery purposefully styled this book to have short chapters that often start climatically in order to keep it a fast-paced and engaging read. Did you like the way that this novel was structured? Were you able to see scenes playing before you like a movie? Or would you have preferred for things to build more slowly to give you time to ease into the story? Why?

Project Azalea Book Club Questions PDF

Click here for a printable PDF of the Project Azalea discussion questions