Busboys and Poets Books Presents AZALEA HEIGHTS
Date and Time
Jul 10, 2022 6:00 pm
Location
450K
450 K St NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20001
Jul 10, 2022 6:00 pm
450K
ABOUT THE BOOK
AZALEA HEIGHTS is a clash-of-cultures story of a diverse cast of characters wanting to make a fresh start. Naina is a recently divorced woman learning to live alone. Rohan is a small-time restaurant owner with big dreams. Altaf, a proud American citizen, is struggling with the radicalization of his teenaged son. Gerard is a retired two-time Iraq veteran fighting with his inner demons and legacy of the war. When they move to a new development called Azalea Heights, their paths inevitably cross and result in a chain of events that upend their lives completely. Zain disappears, and Altaf’s efforts to find him lead Altaf to Zain’s dark world of beheading videos and contempt for America. Gerard is questioned about his role in a war crime. Naina falls for Rohan, only to let the ghosts of her past cloud their relationship. AZALEA HEIGHTS captures the escalating tensions within the neighborhood, but also recognizes the American spirit, when people with disparate ideologies, beliefs, and politics come together in a moment of crisis.
AZALEA HEIGHTS delves into the protagonists’ psyches, their hopes, fears, and biases, the shocking secrets they keep, and the terrible choices they make. In the end, it boils down to a single principle: doing the right thing, regardless of consequences.
Fans of Little Fires Everywhere, An American Marriage and There There will enjoy this riveting tale of inter-cultural conflict in these unsettling times when prejudices have come to be accepted as normal.
This event is free and open to all. Our program begins at 6:00 pm, and will be followed by an audience Q&A. Copies of AZALEA HEIGHTS will be available for purchase after the event, and there will be a signing. Full dinner service is available throughout the show. Please note that this event will not be livestreamed.
We ask that guests RSVP in order to receive direct updates about the event from Busboys and Poets Books. Proof of RSVP may be requested on arrival if capacity is reached.
Rajat Narula is a writer of contemporary fiction, passionate about issues that are dividing people across the globe: racism, extremism, and ultra-nationalism. Having lived in India, Indonesia, and USA, he has observed some of these prejudices at close quarters and they feature prominently in his writings. He works for the World Bank, fighting poverty by day, and making up stories at night. He lives in Virginia, USA with his wife and two daughters. Besides books, movies, and chocolates (and not necessarily in that order), he enjoys laughing with his daughters and taking long walks. Following him on twitter (@rajatwrites) will lead you to the funniest dog videos on the internet. He also writes poetry, and you can access it on his blog. He loves to explore countries and cultures. At last count, he has been to fifty-eight countries (from Afghanistan to Vietnam) across six continents (he is told Antarctica is too cold for him). His first novel, The Jasmine Bloom, was published in 2017. Azalea Heights is his second book.
Patricia (Paty) Hoyes is a local Washingtonian who loves to read books. She has been a member of a book club since the late 90’s and in 2010 started her own book club which is still going strong. She enjoys all genres of books and discovering new authors, particularly those local to the DC metro area. When she isn’t reading or listening to a book, she likes to spend time doing puzzles with her daughters, playing cards with her parents, or driving around in classic British cars which her husband collects.
