Quote by Madeleine Thien: “We carry our histories in our bodies, in our bones.”

This quote powerfully conveys the idea that history and past experiences are not just mental recollections but are physically embodied. It suggests that trauma and memory are deeply ingrained, affecting us on a cellular level.

This novel explores the lasting impact of the Cambodian genocide, linking historical trauma to individual psychology and the body, reflecting growing understanding of inherited trauma in the 21st century.

Canadian novelist of Malaysian-Chinese descent whose novel Do Not Say We Have Nothing was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2016 and won the Scotiabank Giller Prize. Her work traces political trauma across generations through music, memory, and displacement.