Strangers in the House

Name: Strangers in the House
Author: Raja Shehadeh

Raja Shehadeh

Experience life in occupied Ramallah through a moving memoir of family, identity, resistance, and a son’s complex bond with his politically active father.

18 min6 Chapters

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1:28

Personal Growth & Self-Help

History & Politics

Society & Culture

Biography & Memoir

Outline

What's it about?

Strangers in the House (2002) is Raja Shehadeh’s memoir of growing up in Ramallah and coming of age under Israeli occupation. He describes his complex relationship with his father, a prominent lawyer who was killed in 1985, and his own decision to follow him into law. The book explores family, memory, exile, and the daily realities of life under occupation.

Key ideas

Strangers in the House is Raja Shehadeh's memoir of growing up in Ramallah and coming of age under Israeli occupation.
The book centres on his complicated relationship with his father, a prominent lawyer who was killed in 1985.
Shehadeh decided to follow his father into the law, a choice shaped by their difficult bond.
Family, memory and exile run through the memoir as themes that shape a personal identity.
The book shows the daily realities of ordinary life under occupation, not only its large public events.

About the author

Raja Shehadeh is a Palestinian lawyer and writer, born in 1951 in Ramallah. He cofounded Al-Haq, one of the first Palestinian human rights organisations. His book Palestinian Walks won the Orwell Prize in 2008.

Questions people ask

What is Strangers in the House about?

It is Raja Shehadeh's 2002 memoir of growing up in Ramallah under Israeli occupation. It follows his complex relationship with his father, a prominent lawyer who was killed in 1985.

Who should read Strangers in the House?

It suits readers who enjoy memoir and want a personal view of family, identity and daily life under occupation. It also speaks to anyone interested in how a son comes to terms with a strong-willed father.

How long does the Durar summary of Strangers in the House take?

The Durar summary takes about 15 minutes to read or listen to. It covers the main themes of the memoir: family, memory, exile and life under occupation.