Cambodia

Cambodia is a country located on the Indochina Peninsula. Much of the novel focuses on Cambodia in the 1970s when it was subject to the brutal regime of the Angkar and the Khmer Rouge. Janie was born in Cambodia but managed to escape as a refugee. James came to Cambodia as a volunteer and decided to stay there after marrying a Cambodian woman named Sorya.

Canada

Certain portions of the novel take place in the country of Canada. Janie was adopted by a Canadian family after escaping from Cambodia, and she now lives in Montreal as a neurological researcher. Hiroji and James used to live in Vancouver with their mother when they were younger. Hiroji eventually moved to Montreal, where he also began working as a neurological researcher.

Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh is the capital and most populous city in Cambodia. As a child, Janie lived there with...