Minor Feelings

Minor Feelings by Cathy Park Hong is a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of the Asian American experience. Through a blend of memoir, cultural criticism, and poetry, Hong dives deep into the intricate emotions and internal conflicts that many Asian Americans face. She recounts her own personal anecdotes while examining societal structures and cultural practices that contribute to a collective sense of racial discomfort and identity confusion. The book is a heartfelt narrative that tackles themes of marginalisation, belonging, and the complex interplays of identity within a racialised society. Chosen as a Guardian BOOK OF 2020, picked by AnOther as a Book You Should Read This Year, and included in BBC’s Best Books of 2020 so far, Minor Feelings has been widely acclaimed for its intelligent and incisive prose. Claudia Rankine, author of Citizen, describes it as "brilliant, penetrating, and unforgettable... To read this book is to become more human." Hong's writing is described as transformative and daring. She embarks on a personal journey into the heart of her own discomfort, addressing the internalised struggles and "minor feelings" related to the dissonance between her lived reality and the American dream. As Maggie Nelson, author of The Argonauts, notes, Hong "makes good on it: by writing into the heart of her own discomfort, she emerges with a reckoning destined to be a classic." What happens when immigrants believe the lies they’re told about their own racial identity? For Cathy Park Hong, this experience manifests as a blend of shame and difficulty, encapsulated in what she calls "minor feelings." These feelings are often a result of the paradoxical nature of being seen yet unseen, recognised yet misunderstood, a prominent part of the society yet constantly regarded as the other. Minor Feelings is a crucial work that illuminates the nuances of racial identity and the seldom-discussed emotional landscape of Asian Americans. It is not only a compelling personal account but also a profound critique of the societal norms that shape our understanding of ethnicity and belonging. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in the intricate dynamics of race, identity, and the authentic human experience.