Strangers in the House: Coming of Age in Occupied Palestine

by Raja Shehadeh

Book Overview

"This is not a political book," Anthony Lewis asserts in his foreword to this revealing memoir of a father-son relationship set against the backdrop of more than thirty years of life under military occupation. "Yet in a hundred different ways it is political. . . . Shehadeh shatters the stereotype many Americans have of Palestinians."

Three years after his family was driven from the city of Jaffa in 1948, Raja Shehadeh was born in Ramallah. His...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0142002933
• ISBN13: 9780142002933
• Release Date: April 2003
• Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
• Length: 274 Pages
• Weight: 0.47 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.0" x 8.0"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Eye-opening

As an American, I have grown up to believe that Israel is a close friend to us. I would imagine that an ally of the United States would be a country that follows human rights guidelines. However, I was mistaken. "Strangers in the House" is a brilliantly written piece which provides personal experiences in an occupied Palestine. With all of the conflict in the Middle East currently, it is a must-read, to understand the viewpoint from all angles. Raja Shehadeh thinks way past his time, as his father had. He has written this book for the world to know what daily life is like under occupation and that it is a constant struggle. Mr. Shehadeh is admirable in his open-mindedness. If you would like to see the viewpoint from the other side, this book is perfect. It will help you open your mind and see the truth.

Required Reading

This book should be considered required reading for anyone seeking to understand the current Palestinian - Israeli conflict. Shehadeh provides a very personal view of the reality of growing up in the occupied West Bank. Best of all, he pulls no punches - against Israel or his fellow Palestinians.

A must read!

An amazing reflection of the author's life in occupied Palestine. A non-bios and educational book of the daily life of Palestinians, and the oppression they face due to the Israeli occupation. A must read if you want to get the real picture about what goes on in that region, away from the propaganda of the media. The book also describes the personal life of the author, especially his relationship with his father. The author blends the two subjects very well making the book both entertaining and educational

Smoke but no Fire...

A great book showing the struggles that the Palestinians go through in their every day life in Palestine. How Israel was able to find herself a home out of no where, claim it and get all the support to stay.The book tells how things even got worse by the arabs who kept on waiting to get involved, how all the dreams were only on paper, and how only talking about solutions and victory has to be followed by actions.It also demonstrates how the Palestinains themselves did not have a great vision from the beginning, and how with time they have lost everything they believed they will get back. Now they find themselves in a worse situation than they were almost 40 years ago, when they only wanted to fight back against an enemy who is much more prepared, and recognized in the world.One more aspect the book shows is how emotional people can be, not wanting to hear what is the truth, and how that can lead to a very sad and unjustified crime. Beautifully written, not another history book, Shahadeh takes you through his daily struggle in the area, with his father, society, and himself to give you the best and cleares picture.

Powerful message

This book was assigned reading for a class of mine, but I am extremely glad that I read it. At first, it seems to be merely Raja's autobiography, but it is much more than that. Strangers in the House is described in the foreward as being "not a political book," but at the same time "in a hundred different ways it is political." A strong message about what should be done to solve and end the Palestine-Israeli conflict is presented through Raja's story of his life.Since his views on what should happen contrast so sharply with those of his father, Aziz, it was difficult for him to grow up and not argue incessantly with his parents. Somehow me managed to look at his situation logically, and has maintained his individuality in the world. By fighting for human rights and trying to enfore the real estate laws which are broken by the Israelis, Raja is trying his hardest to change the world and better everyone's lives in the Middle East.I strongly recommend this book to anyone with any desire to learn about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, as well as to anyone who tries to keep one eye open to the state of our world today.