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The Old Man & The Monkey
The Old Man & The Monkey' is a stunningly beautiful story of a relationship which develops between an old man and a creature which is regarded as a dangerous pest in Japan, a snow monkey, in George Polley's moving allegory of dignity in the face of racism.
- GenresShort Stories
62 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 5, 2010
1 person is currently reading
79 people want to read
About the author
George Polley
13 books21 followersOriginally from Seattle, my wife and I moved to Sapporo, Japan in early 2008, where I write full time.
I began writing in the mid 1960s, beginning with a novel (unpublished) and poetry. My first short story, "Jonah's Birth" was published in "The South Dakota Review". Since then I've published fiction & poetry in a number of publications, including "The Palestine Chronicle", "The View From Here" and "A Rainbow Feast: New Asian Short Stories" (Mohammad Quayum, editor) published by Marshall Cavendish Editions, Singapore, in 2011.
Three of my novels ("The Old Man and the Monkey", "Grandfather and the Raven" and "Bear", a novel about an unusual dog and his human friend Andy, are published by Taylor Street Publishing, San Francisco. "The City Has Many Faces", a novel set in Mexico City, has just been completed.
I began writing in the mid 1960s, beginning with a novel (unpublished) and poetry. My first short story, "Jonah's Birth" was published in "The South Dakota Review". Since then I've published fiction & poetry in a number of publications, including "The Palestine Chronicle", "The View From Here" and "A Rainbow Feast: New Asian Short Stories" (Mohammad Quayum, editor) published by Marshall Cavendish Editions, Singapore, in 2011.
Three of my novels ("The Old Man and the Monkey", "Grandfather and the Raven" and "Bear", a novel about an unusual dog and his human friend Andy, are published by Taylor Street Publishing, San Francisco. "The City Has Many Faces", a novel set in Mexico City, has just been completed.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 21, 2015
The Old Man & the Monkey by George Polley is a moving experience. Instantly touched by the love and passion that went into crafting this delightful tale.
Friendship is friendship no matter who it is between. Man and woman or man and animal. In this case, a monkey named Yukitaro and a man named Genjiro whose relationship pulls on your heartstrings. This is a beautiful, admirable friendship that filled my heart with joy.
Besides the beautiful messages that come across loud and clear, I loved the sweet illustrations which adds an extra special touch to the endearing story.
Quote ~
“Harue looked out over the valley, lost in her thoughts. Their long life together spread out over fifty years seemed to flow like a river on which they had traveled, hardly noticing until she began looking back.”
Friendship is friendship no matter who it is between. Man and woman or man and animal. In this case, a monkey named Yukitaro and a man named Genjiro whose relationship pulls on your heartstrings. This is a beautiful, admirable friendship that filled my heart with joy.
Besides the beautiful messages that come across loud and clear, I loved the sweet illustrations which adds an extra special touch to the endearing story.
Quote ~
“Harue looked out over the valley, lost in her thoughts. Their long life together spread out over fifty years seemed to flow like a river on which they had traveled, hardly noticing until she began looking back.”
November 25, 2012
This short story tells the tale of an old Japanese man, who leaves his home each day to sit on a rock and meditate. Day after day, he spends hours there, watching and thinking. One day, a monkey joins him, and the two develop a strong friendship. The old man's wife is reluctantly drawn into the friendship, and the other residents of their village share in her wariness - will the monkey come into the village, followed by troops of monkeys from the forest? Will they prove to be a menace? Will the villagers be forced to defend their territory?
This is a beautifully well-written morality story; it reduces the human fear of 'the other' to a simple allegory, and I would recommend this as a great read, particularly for children.
This is a beautifully well-written morality story; it reduces the human fear of 'the other' to a simple allegory, and I would recommend this as a great read, particularly for children.
July 19, 2010
This is a really, really beautiful tale of friendship across races - quite a long way across races, given it is between an old man and a Japanese snow monkey.
Snow monkeys are considered pests. Old men can be pests too, especially on the road, so perhaps they have more in common than you might at first imagine.
The old man's wife and the villagers fear an infestation of snow monkeys in their village, as if they hadn't infested it first away from the snow monkeys.
It is a wise story. Legendary.
Snow monkeys are considered pests. Old men can be pests too, especially on the road, so perhaps they have more in common than you might at first imagine.
The old man's wife and the villagers fear an infestation of snow monkeys in their village, as if they hadn't infested it first away from the snow monkeys.
It is a wise story. Legendary.
May 5, 2013
It is a heart-warming story of friendship and kindness. I think it is a good tale for children and adults, and definitely will appeal to those interested in the Japanese culture and wild nature. A quick read to bring some light in your soul
June 20, 2020
A very reassuring book! Lovely to read alone and to read to children
This book is beautiful. Simple words, simple ideas, but crafted so well! Certainly worth reading. A treasure chest to be enjoyed.
This book is beautiful. Simple words, simple ideas, but crafted so well! Certainly worth reading. A treasure chest to be enjoyed.
November 8, 2020
Such a beautiful tale about friendship.
December 24, 2012
Genjiro Yamanda is peacefully wading through his retired life with his wife Harue in a place called "The village", it is all serene close to nature with tranquility and wonder surrounding them, their two children are independently leading their lives with occasional visit back home..Over the years Genjiro has developed a special interest over a place for his meditation by the edge of the forest...Out of blue one day he has a visitor that too a snow monkey ,giant and old just like Genjiro , from then on they strike a chord developing a special bond that none understood..He sat with his new monkey friend whom he named Yukitaro sharing his silence just like that with his wife..Yukitaro somehow reciprocated well all enough..Initially skeptical Harue finally gave in to the friendly Yukitaro..The season pass by bringing in wonder and blessing , bond between Yukitaro and Genjiro only strengthened..Yukitaro even became regular visitor to their home bringing in gifts along from forest..This friendship went down all well till the end of their lives in all its splendour..
This is the kind of story you want to read it to the children to bring out the greater meaning of life and relationships. Gesture of kindness, love, friendship reflects through the quiescence and calm Japanese Village...The warmth of the bond wraps the reader from the beginning till the end and I loved the way it closed just in a classical way..Read it if you love to reflect the deeper meaning that goes beyond the words...
This is the kind of story you want to read it to the children to bring out the greater meaning of life and relationships. Gesture of kindness, love, friendship reflects through the quiescence and calm Japanese Village...The warmth of the bond wraps the reader from the beginning till the end and I loved the way it closed just in a classical way..Read it if you love to reflect the deeper meaning that goes beyond the words...
June 19, 2013
This was a sweet little book about an old Japanese man who has retired and spends each day sitting on a rock in his favorite place, looking out over the valley. One day he is joined by an old monkey, worn and scarred, who simply sits with him and also enjoys the solitude. His wife, as well as villagers and other family members, is afraid that the monkey will attract unwelcome visitors to their village and that they will wreck the vegetable gardens and vandalize the homes. But the monkey only comes himself, sometimes bringing gifts of food. When the wife dies, the monkey brings a flower to the grave and seems to share in the man's sorrow. When the old man passes, the monkey also comes and grieves at his grave. Later the grandson discovers out in the forest the bones of this huge monkey and buries him alongside the man and his wife with the inscription, A Friend. Perhaps because I am growing much older, I identify with this old man who enjoys his solitude out in nature, thinking back on his life and family and how he befriends a wild creature who also seems to be in the same life stage. Don't we all enjoy companionship and the richness of just sitting together with an old friend, not needing to talk but just enjoying out times of silence together? Perhaps that's why we Americans enjoy our pets so much. They are there for us and seem to have no expectations but just want to be together.
August 13, 2010
I had until today not read any of George Polley's work. From today onward I will seek it out to read.
Every once in a while we are fortunate enough to come upon something unique, something that touches, provokes, and stirs us to action. This book, is one of those moments for me. It's sublety should never be overlooked. George Polley invites you into a world familiar, yet not necessarily comfortable.
Comfort is one thing you may seek, yet comfort without thought is not what he does here. He gently breaches that zone, making this reader smile wryly at the discovery of so many people I recognize, including myself.
An old man, and his relationship with a monkey...simple? No...No, not simple. For the friendship that is shared between this one man, and an animal, touches off a deep seated fear of the unknown in it's characters. The "What if" factor.
Lessons learned, lives changed. Oh yes. Yet George doesn't thump a table, he doesn't raise his voice to gain your attention, he invites you, he gently challenges you, and he allows you to laugh and cry at the unveiling of yourself.
A marvelous, moving book. For this reader a sparkling moment of clarity found within its pages.
Every once in a while we are fortunate enough to come upon something unique, something that touches, provokes, and stirs us to action. This book, is one of those moments for me. It's sublety should never be overlooked. George Polley invites you into a world familiar, yet not necessarily comfortable.
Comfort is one thing you may seek, yet comfort without thought is not what he does here. He gently breaches that zone, making this reader smile wryly at the discovery of so many people I recognize, including myself.
An old man, and his relationship with a monkey...simple? No...No, not simple. For the friendship that is shared between this one man, and an animal, touches off a deep seated fear of the unknown in it's characters. The "What if" factor.
Lessons learned, lives changed. Oh yes. Yet George doesn't thump a table, he doesn't raise his voice to gain your attention, he invites you, he gently challenges you, and he allows you to laugh and cry at the unveiling of yourself.
A marvelous, moving book. For this reader a sparkling moment of clarity found within its pages.
July 11, 2014
This is a short book and a wonderful and beautifully told story of a friendship between an elderly Japanese man, Genjiro and a large snow monkey, whom Genjiro names Yukitaro. They have a true communication going on between them and the monkey even wins over Genjiro's wife and the whole village, who have feared this friendship would lead to an invasion of monkeys, in their village a species they have always feared. It shows that we can find friendship and common interest, in many different forms. This a short story worth reading.
January 30, 2011
The Old Man and The Monkey is a charming little fable with a deep message. It's beautifully written and has a universal appeal, regardless of your age or cultural background. Like many small books, less is most definitely more!
January 18, 2013
A modern day "mukashi banashi"--Japanese fairy tale about racism and acceptance of others. A short and very touching (even if a little preachy) book. Mr. Polley mixes the modern with the old to weave an timeless story. Well worth the effort.
April 20, 2013
This sweet, short book, almost a fairy tale, about friendship, acceptance and old age is set in Japan. It would take longer to describe the story than it would to read it, and I really do recommend you read it.
January 19, 2016
Incredible life lesson taught
The story teaches an incredible life lesson, be a friend to all. No matter what, no matter language barriers, species barriers. We all can be friends. Show each other love and affection.
The story teaches an incredible life lesson, be a friend to all. No matter what, no matter language barriers, species barriers. We all can be friends. Show each other love and affection.
September 23, 2010
What a wonderful book about love and understanding mixed with compassion. I highly recommend it.
January 30, 2012
Heartwarming feel -good short story.
June 20, 2012
Excellently delightful!
April 20, 2013
Cute, short story.
June 25, 2013
Beautifully written. This story is a lesson about accepting what comes without anxiety and allowing life to unfold.
June 23, 2013
Nicely written short story.
October 2, 2013
interesting short story
March 6, 2014
A very short novel, but absolutely mesmerizing in its charm and simplicity. No wasted words and with a quiet prose, related a world of feeling. Loved it.
June 25, 2014
A feel good story, worth reading.
August 7, 2013
this is a very unexpected little gem....one not to miss!
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews