Dance Dance Revolution, Hong’s second book published in 2006, consists of
science-fiction poems written in a style that mixes several languages
including English, Spanish, French, and Korean. Hong incorporates English
slang from many time periods to create an otherworldly feel, stating she
“wanted the English in the book to be a hyperbole of that everyday
dynamism of spoken English.” Since the writing of her first book
(Translating Mo’um, 2002), Hong has been intent on focusing on the
linguistics of historical culture. In Dance Dance Revolution, Hong artistically
explored invention of dialects and slang impeccably to create another
genius world of science fiction.
Hong’s 2020 book sheds light on the confusion encountered growing up in
America with immigrant parents. Titled Minor Feelings: An Asian American
Reckoning, the prose fits into the genre of creative nonfiction—a merge of
traditionally fictional syntax and informational writing. It is currently
developing as a television series starring Greta Lee. The work—part memoir,
part cultural criticism—reveals Hong’s and many other's experiences with the
“minor” feelings of shame, suspicion, and melancholy brought on by living
as an Asian American, an identity forced to remain confused and apologetic.
Through writing the history of others in addition to her own, Hong potently
describes the societal aversion of Asian Americans. Minor Feelings is at once
a recollection and exploration of what it truly means to be Asian American.
As Kiese Laymon, author of Heavy, states: “Cathy Park Hong sees us. Her
vision and execution are so breathtaking. And so genius. And so absolutely
scary. Read it. Re-read it. It will read you.”