Cathy Hong’s unapologetic criticism of how Asian Americans are presented in America and the complex “minor feelings” that arise when the portrayal betrays a person’s own reality. Her collection of essays are like a stream of consciousness, part memoir blended with Asian American History. There’s more Asian history in this book than was taught in my high school history. She gives voice to the invisibility that many Asian Americans feel. Asians are both victims and perpetrators of racism. The model minority is a myth and it depicts Asian Americans as living the American Dream. We should be GRATEFUL and never raise questions. In reality, “belonging is always promised but just out of reach so we behave”. We are constantly gaslighted.

Minor Feelings is provocative, tense, intimate dive into her psyche exposing questions about family, female friendships, and her own identity. She reflects on her own family’s history which is many sense many other Asian Americans can related to. I highly recommend this book.