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lottie1803's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
lovelyday2day's review against another edition
I highlighted so much in this book. Favorite essays were Stand Up and Portrait of an Artist.
materialistgirrl's review against another edition
2.0
tldr: some interesting themes and ideas, compact summary of asian (especially korean) american history, but really most suited for white people or east asians who’ve never thought about race or class before / boba liberals.
i really wanted to love this book. it’s subtitle “an asian american reckoning” is ambitious and that intrigued me! an asian american reckoning? that would be powerful! and while hong does pose a vital question of whether there even is such thing as the asian american consciousness (and if so, what would it be?) she doesn’t provide a satisfactory answer. she stops just shy of one. and true, maybe there isn’t a single authoritative answer, but then…. say that? expand on that!
don’t get me wrong, there are some interesting concepts and important themes in this book. i think hong’s definition of “minor feelings” is a notable contribution to the discourse. there are discussions to be had about the asian american identity, the importance of solidarity-building with the global majority, the rage many asians are told not to feel or express, the myth of the model minority and the division it has caused. i feel that the importance of these themes is diluted by A) Hong’s projection of her own experiences on to others, and B) Hong’s tendency (whether intentional or not) to avoid her own conclusion or an in-depth analysis (ex. by providing personal anecdote which sometimes fails to fully encapsulate the theme). i find that she introduces compelling arguments and ideas and then moves on too quickly for my taste.
i also take issue with the way this book is marketed as “an asian american reckoning.” it is not. i don’t feel that arguments so underscored by personal anecdote and so integrated with memoir should or can be considered an asian american reckoning. this book is too heavily influenced by hong’s individual lived experiences to speak for asian americans as a collective. and while hong does emphasize that asians are not a monolith and that she cannot speak for all asian americans, she then goes on to both treat specific asian ethnicities/nationalities as monolithic, and speaks for all asian americans. she can acknowledge her racial and economic positionality as much as she wants but her writing will always be coloured by it. this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it’s problematic when you presume to speak for a diverse population.
i believe that if hong hadn’t claimed to be writing “an asian american reckoning” and had narrowed her focus to her korean american upbringing in tandem with the korean american or east asian consciousness (still acknowledging that these populations are not homogenous either) this book would have been completely different, but also less susceptible to the majority of the criticism it elicits, and a stronger piece of work overall. i also would’ve liked more concentration in her essays on the central theme/concept of “minor feelings” that she proposes, especially because hong is endeavouring to introduce new terminology to the discourse.
i think the main problem i have with this book is that as much as hong insists she must stop writing for white audiences, “minor feelings” feels clearly written for a white audience. i mean, the entire marketing of this book as a sort of all-in-one manual to asian american consciousness and experience can only really be for the “well-meaning” liberal audience.
the first essay is indicative of hong’s need to justify why the asian american experience is worth talking about in the first place (and i really get it. i do. i sympathize with it because white people often do require proof of suffering to think an issue is worth their time). i think to really feel like it’s the “formidable” piece of work the Times claims it is, you have to either be white or maybe an asian who has never thought about race or class before.
would i recommend this book? well, to white people and asians who don’t know much about asian american history or who are boba liberals, then yeah sure. you’ll definitely get something out of it. it does have its place and i did enjoy it overall! for asians and other racialized folks already well versed in asian american history who think this book is going to offer groundbreaking insight on anything- i would say to skip it.
i really wanted to love this book. it’s subtitle “an asian american reckoning” is ambitious and that intrigued me! an asian american reckoning? that would be powerful! and while hong does pose a vital question of whether there even is such thing as the asian american consciousness (and if so, what would it be?) she doesn’t provide a satisfactory answer. she stops just shy of one. and true, maybe there isn’t a single authoritative answer, but then…. say that? expand on that!
don’t get me wrong, there are some interesting concepts and important themes in this book. i think hong’s definition of “minor feelings” is a notable contribution to the discourse. there are discussions to be had about the asian american identity, the importance of solidarity-building with the global majority, the rage many asians are told not to feel or express, the myth of the model minority and the division it has caused. i feel that the importance of these themes is diluted by A) Hong’s projection of her own experiences on to others, and B) Hong’s tendency (whether intentional or not) to avoid her own conclusion or an in-depth analysis (ex. by providing personal anecdote which sometimes fails to fully encapsulate the theme). i find that she introduces compelling arguments and ideas and then moves on too quickly for my taste.
i also take issue with the way this book is marketed as “an asian american reckoning.” it is not. i don’t feel that arguments so underscored by personal anecdote and so integrated with memoir should or can be considered an asian american reckoning. this book is too heavily influenced by hong’s individual lived experiences to speak for asian americans as a collective. and while hong does emphasize that asians are not a monolith and that she cannot speak for all asian americans, she then goes on to both treat specific asian ethnicities/nationalities as monolithic, and speaks for all asian americans. she can acknowledge her racial and economic positionality as much as she wants but her writing will always be coloured by it. this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it’s problematic when you presume to speak for a diverse population.
i believe that if hong hadn’t claimed to be writing “an asian american reckoning” and had narrowed her focus to her korean american upbringing in tandem with the korean american or east asian consciousness (still acknowledging that these populations are not homogenous either) this book would have been completely different, but also less susceptible to the majority of the criticism it elicits, and a stronger piece of work overall. i also would’ve liked more concentration in her essays on the central theme/concept of “minor feelings” that she proposes, especially because hong is endeavouring to introduce new terminology to the discourse.
i think the main problem i have with this book is that as much as hong insists she must stop writing for white audiences, “minor feelings” feels clearly written for a white audience. i mean, the entire marketing of this book as a sort of all-in-one manual to asian american consciousness and experience can only really be for the “well-meaning” liberal audience.
the first essay is indicative of hong’s need to justify why the asian american experience is worth talking about in the first place (and i really get it. i do. i sympathize with it because white people often do require proof of suffering to think an issue is worth their time). i think to really feel like it’s the “formidable” piece of work the Times claims it is, you have to either be white or maybe an asian who has never thought about race or class before.
would i recommend this book? well, to white people and asians who don’t know much about asian american history or who are boba liberals, then yeah sure. you’ll definitely get something out of it. it does have its place and i did enjoy it overall! for asians and other racialized folks already well versed in asian american history who think this book is going to offer groundbreaking insight on anything- i would say to skip it.
samsterleeee's review against another edition
5.0
In "Minor Feelings," author Cathy Park Hong ruminates on what it means to be Asian. Hong relives memories from hers and other Asian-Americans' past, as well as touching on how her heritage, culture, and ethnicity influence the way she sees (and how she assumes others see) her art.
This was a truly thought-provoking book. I found myself having to pause every few pages in order to sit with some of the ideas Hong was bringing up. Beautifully written, I highly recommend this read.
This was a truly thought-provoking book. I found myself having to pause every few pages in order to sit with some of the ideas Hong was bringing up. Beautifully written, I highly recommend this read.
kathleenwong's review against another edition
5.0
in this brief review, I’ll speak for myself as a Chinese American woman: cathy park hong articulates what I’ve been feeling and have experienced and still experiencing. it’s maddening how she can encapsulate this feeling of guilt, shame, indebtedness, and anger into poignant words, sentences and essays. in four of her essays, my subconscious was pointing and nodding so much that yes! that’s what i’ve been feeling all this time. but there are many times she wrote out moments that felt like a slap to the face I needed to put this book down and step away from for a long time. Truthfully, I started this book a couple years ago and stopped because I started second guessing myself - what park hong described felt too on the nose that I needed to get over myself (but also because I’m a lousy reader who procrastinates).
I’m glad I finished this book. I learned so much - not just about our history, but the way I should view and embrace Asian American identity through a different perspective. Since Minor Feelings was published a few years ago, the issues Park Hong was writing about still persists (unfortunately), however I believe that young Asian Americans, and younger generations (millennials, gen z) are starting to speak up, question/argue against capitalism and U.S. imperialism. Minor Feelings is one of the reasons that has catalyzed me wanting to learn more bout history and current events. Thank you Cathy Park Hong for writing this.
I’m glad I finished this book. I learned so much - not just about our history, but the way I should view and embrace Asian American identity through a different perspective. Since Minor Feelings was published a few years ago, the issues Park Hong was writing about still persists (unfortunately), however I believe that young Asian Americans, and younger generations (millennials, gen z) are starting to speak up, question/argue against capitalism and U.S. imperialism. Minor Feelings is one of the reasons that has catalyzed me wanting to learn more bout history and current events. Thank you Cathy Park Hong for writing this.
a_schwa's review against another edition
5.0
“Writing nearby” is a nugget this book gave me that I will treasure in my writing.
What a strong book of essays.
What a strong book of essays.
jensent29's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
A really amazing overview of how unique and awful Asian American discrimination is. This book does include descriptions of sexual violence.
eibhlynn's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5