Yiming Ma: These Memories Do Not Belong to Us, 10 September | Event in Brookline | AllEvents

Yiming Ma: These Memories Do Not Belong to Us

Brookline Booksmith

Highlights

Wed, 10 Sep, 2025 at 07:00 pm

1 hour

Brookline Booksmith

Starting at USD 0

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Date & Location

Wed, 10 Sep, 2025 at 07:00 pm to 08:00 pm (GMT-04:00)

Brookline Booksmith

279 Harvard Street, Brookline, United States

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About the event

Yiming Ma: These Memories Do Not Belong to Us
Read on for important details for this Brookline Booksmith event.

About this Event


Join us at Brookline Booksmith to celebrate the release of These Memories Do Not Belong to Us with author Yiming Ma.

Register for the event!
RSVP to let us know you're coming! Depending on the volume of responses, an RSVP may be required for entrance to the event. In the event that we reach capacity and have to close RSVPs, there will not be a waiting list.

Get your copy!
EVENT ATTENDEES: Preorder your copy of These Memories Do Not Belong to Us through this page. Books will also be available for purchase at the event. Books can be picked up 30 minutes before the event in the event space.

CAN'T MAKE IT TO THE EVENT? Preorder the book here to have it signed, and choose to have it held for pickup or shipped from the store!
Book orders are processed for pickup or shipping after ticket sales have closed.

Event accessibility
  • This event will take place at street level.
  • If possible, events are livestreamed. Check out our store YouTube channel for livestream updates.
  • ASL interpretation may be provided (based on the availability of interpreters) but must be requested at least 2 weeks in advance of the event.
  • Please email us at dGlja2V0aW5nIHwgYnJvb2tsaW5lYm9va3NtaXRoICEgY29t as soon as possible if you require ASL interpretation, guaranteed seating, or other accommodations. Seats are limited.We will do our best to serve your needs!


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These Memories Do Not Belong to Us

For fans of Cloud Atlas and The Power, a hauntingly beautiful and prescient debut set in a future where a renamed China is the sole global superpower.

When I was a boy, my mother used to tell me stories of a world before memories could be shared between strangers…

In a far-off future ruled by the Qin Empire, every citizen is fitted with a Mindbank, an intracranial device capable of recording and transmitting memories between minds. This technology gives birth to Memory Capitalism, where anyone with means can relive the life experiences of others. It also unleashes opportunities for manipulation: memories can be edited, marketed, and even corrupted for personal gain.

After the sudden passing of his mother, an unnamed narrator inherits a collection of banned memories from her Mindbank so dangerous that even possessing them places his freedom in jeopardy. Traversing genres, empires, and millennia, they are tales of sumo wrestlers and social activists and armless swimmers and watchmakers, struggling amid the backdrop of Qin’s ascent toward global dominance. Determined to release his mother's memories to the world before they are destroyed forever, the narrator will risk everything—even if the cost is his own life.

Powerful and provocative, These Memories Do Not Belong to Us masterfully explores how governments and media manipulate history to control the collective imagination. It forces us to see beyond the sheen of convenient truths and to unearth real stories of sacrifice and love that refuse to be eradicated.

Born in Shanghai, Yiming Ma spent a decade in the tech and finance world across New York, Toronto, London, Berlin and South Africa before writing the dystopian novel These Memories Do Not Belong to Us, set in a world where memories are bought and sold. He attended Stanford for his MBA and also holds an MFA from Warren Wilson College, where he was named the Carol Houck Smith Scholar. His stories and essays appear in the New York Times, The Guardian, The Florida Review, and elsewhere. His story “Swimmer of Yangtze” won the 2018 Guardian 4th Estate Story Prize. He’s a first generation immigrant and despite his travels, he’s still figuring out where home is.



About Brookline Booksmith

Brookline Booksmith, thriving in the heart of Coolidge Corner in Brookline, Massachusetts, since 1961, is one of New England’s premier independent bookstores. We offer a vast selection of books, ranging from current bestsellers to the most eclectic titles. We are also known for our beautiful and inspired gifts. Customers buy and sell gently used books in our treasured Used Book Cellar and enjoy our bountiful bargain book selection. We host award-winning events series (including our groundbreaking Transnational Literature Series), offering more than 300 author talks, community conversations, and book clubs annually. Find more at brooklinebooksmith.com!


Also check out other Arts events in Brookline, Literary Art events in Brookline, Virtual events in Brookline.

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Ticket Info

Tickets for Yiming Ma: These Memories Do Not Belong to Us can be booked here.

Ticket type Ticket price
RSVP Free
RSVP + Support Our Store 7 USD
RSVP + These Memories (event pickup) 34 USD
These Memories (book only, priority mail) 45 USD
These Memories (book only, store pickup) 34 USD
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Nearby Hotels

Brookline Booksmith, 279 Harvard Street, Brookline, United States

Just a heads up!

We have gathered all the information for you in one convenient spot, but please keep in mind that these are subject to change. We do our best to keep everything updated, but something might be out of sync. For the latest updates, always check the official event details by clicking the "Find Tickets" button.

Yiming Ma: These Memories Do Not Belong to Us, 10 September | Event in Brookline | AllEvents
Yiming Ma: These Memories Do Not Belong to Us
Wed, 10 Sep, 2025 at 07:00 pm
USD 0