The New Yorker: The Writer's Voice - New Fiction from The New Yorker
Han Ong Reads “The Monkey Who Speaks”
Sep 7, 2021
Han Ong, author of plays and novels, reads his story 'The Monkey Who Speaks.' The story explores the relationship between Roscoe and Flavia as they navigate pasts, mental states, and deception. Flavia reflects on her immigrant narrative in NYC while assisting Roscoe with charitable acts. They discuss movies and discover a surprising connection. The chapter explores history, medical appointments, and the emotional resonance of a wartime love story.
58:09
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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- The protagonist's relationship with an elderly man is strained by his declining health and dementia.
- Watching movies during lockdown provides solace, closure, and triggers feelings of nostalgia and longing.
Deep dives
The Declining Health of Roscoe and Flavia's Role as Caregiver
Roscoe is an elderly man with health concerns, and Flavia has been taking care of him for over a year. Roscoe's declining mental and physical health affects their relationship, and he starts ignoring Flavia and showing signs of dementia.
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