Little Princes

One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal

By: Conor Grennan

Narrated by: Conor Grennan

Length: 9 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

In search of adventure, 29-year-old Conor Grennan traded his day job for a year-long trip around the globe, a journey that began with a three-month stint volunteering at the Little Princes Children's Home, an orphanage in war-torn Nepal.

Conor was initially reluctant to volunteer, unsure whether he had the proper skill, or enough passion, to get involved in a developing country in the middle of a civil war. But he was soon overcome by the herd of rambunctious, resilient children who would challenge and reward him in a way that he had never imagined.

When Conor learned the unthinkable truth about their situation, he was stunned: The children were not orphans at all. Child traffickers were promising families in remote villages to protect their children from the civil war - for a huge fee - by taking them to safety. They would then abandon the children far from home, in the chaos of Nepal's capital, Kathmandu.

For Conor, what began as a footloose adventure becomes a commitment to reunite the children he had grown to love with their families, but this would be no small task. He would risk his life on a journey through the legendary mountains of Nepal, facing the dangers of a bloody civil war and a debilitating injury. Waiting for Conor back in Kathmandu, and hopeful he would make it out before being trapped in by snow, was the woman who would eventually become his wife and share his life's work.

Little Princes is a true story of families and children, and what one person is capable of when faced with seemingly insurmountable odds. At turns tragic, joyful, and hilarious, Little Princes is a testament to the power of faith and the ability of love to carry us beyond our wildest expectations.

©2011 Conor Grennan (P)2011 HarperCollins Publishers

Hard to Put Down, Relevant, Important, Informative

I am well on the way to completing finishing this book, some 9 hours in 2 days. If this isn't speed reading, I know what it is. It actually isn't speed reading at all, as I am using the ordinary pace on this reading device. Anyway, it is an immersion in a deeper heart.

I have been highly interested/obsessed with Nepal for a month. This will be the third book I read about the country and I have plunged into countless youtube video vologs. But this book brings me closer to the part of Nepal relevant to me than anything else.

I wanted to go to Nepal and do work with the orphans, as Conor did do. And maybe someday I will. This book has been for me an important bridge between the dream of visiting a very different land, and the possibility of going there in reality.

Thank you Conor for this important story.

Author brings Nepal to life

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Definitely. Cannot recommend it more highly.

Which character – as performed by Conor Grennan – was your favorite?

Any and all of the children.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes!

A Truly Special Book

What made the experience of listening to Little Princes the most enjoyable?

Aside from the story itself, it was really nice to hear the author's narration because you could sense in his voice how he was recalling the moments. This gave a level of realism, depth, and tension that a different narrator might not convey.

Which character – as performed by Conor Grennan – was your favorite?

I felt that all of the central characters were equally entertaining, several of the kids were particularly amusing. The bath time shampoo beard, toy and the spider, and the Undertaker were all really amusing!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

There are many many emotional moments, particularly those surrounding the recovery of the seven children and subsequent relocation at the home Conor created for them.

Any additional comments?

This is a must listen for anyone.

Better than I expected

I listened to a sample of this book, and based on that, bought it. I found it on apaperback sale, so didn't feel I'd risked much. I was captivated. The author's narration of his own book was a wonderful surprise. Usually, I find self narrations less than stellar I mention the appalling performance of Ray Bradbury in reading Fahrenheit 451 as an example.

This is the story of a rather rootless guy who has had a great time working in Prague after college. He makes it clear that he has partied a lot, enjoyed a cheap living accomodation and thus has money to burn. So, he decides to take a trip around the world. But, to salve his conscience, he begins his year with a stint caring for orphans in Nepal. He is very self deprecating in his description of his "nobility" and "self-giving" when questioned by family, and more to the point, women in bars and other social situations.

His arrival in Nepal is a total eye opener for Grennan. He learns that war really means war, with guns and fighting, rather than the overblown warnings he had mainly ignored. He is quickly made aware of his mammoth shortcomings; never caring for children, and having a rather hazy remembrance of what he learned in school.

Yet, the boys of the Little Princes, all stolen or kidnapped from therir families for a great price, which promised good care and education, is a total untruth. All these children were removed from their loving but poverty stricken parents, who only wanted them safe from the civil war raging in the country.

Grennan soon grows fond and even to love these kids. He is drawn into the search to unite the children with their families. He again gently but honestly mocks himself for his lack of forethought in planning such a trip. Yet, in spite of, and because of his pigheadedness and determination, he succeeds.

There is even a love story which is woven through the book. Grennan did a lovely job of telling the story not only of the terrible plight of the orphans of Nepal, and their amazing strenght and care for one another, but of his maturation during the years he spent there.

I would say this is a book well worth the reading. I also wouldn't mind listening to Grennan as a narrator for other books. I've read a lot of books of this nature, and this takes itself with a bit of levity. It makes everything more believable. I think I'd love to meet the author at a gathering and enjoy hearing more stories.

Loved it!!!

This was my first audible book and I couldn't stop listening!! This was a very enlightening book and the narration by the author is excellent. I highly recommend it!

Best ever

Where does Little Princes rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is the first time I have written a book reveiw. This is the best audio book I have ever listned to and I have been listening for 20 years. This book was absolutely outstanding. I loved the way it was read by the author. The story was funny, heartwarming, and uplifting. I learned about Nepal and the wonderful people that live there. Conor Grennan is an incredible author. I hope he writes and narrates more,

Absolutely Amazing!

Conor's story of the children of Nepal will have you both laughing and crying. Most of all, you will be inspired by the fantastic work that is being done for the lost children of Nepal. The many answers to prayer were incredible.

Entertaining AND inspiring!

My measure of a good book is: Does it make me curious to know more about the topic? Does it inspire me to be a better person? Does it leave something in my 'soul?' This wonderful book meets all three of these metrics. Conor Grennan tells his story with humor and humility, and instills a sense of discovery and passion in the listener. You'll find yourself lost in the grit and beauty of Nepal and her people. Highly recommended!

Top 10 on my favorites list

This is easily one of my top 10 favorite books. I laughed, cried and couldn’t wait to have a free moment in my day to continue listening to the next part of the story. I’ve never written a review before but I was so moved by the story of the children in Nepal and the work of this author and his colleagues that I have to urge anyone who has an interest in humanitarianism, travel or child welfare to read this book.

Fantastic audiobook

An amazing story about an unlikely protagonist facilitating the reunion of parents and children after they've been duped by opportunistic child traffickers during political upheaval in Nepal.