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Sammar, a young Muslim woman from Khartoum, has been overwhelmed with grief since her husband's death. She works as an Arabic translator at a university in Aberdeen, Scotland while her son stays with her aunt in Khartoum. Sammar and Rae, a kind secular Middle Eastern Studies professor, form a close friendship which deepens into love. Sammar has a very strong faith that defines her as a person. But Rae comes from a different religious and cultural background.

Author Leila Aboulela writes using spare but beautiful language. Aboulela has lived in both Khartoum and Aberdeen, and gives wonderful descriptions of the contrasting locations. The book starts in cold, gray Scotland in winter, reflecting the depression that Sammar is feeling. She visits her family in Sudan later in the story. She feels the comfort and warmth of being with her family as she's also enjoying the heat and earthy colors of Khartoum. She does have to cope with the water shortages and power blackouts in Khartoum, but feels that she acts more like her true self there. She misses Rae, but doesn't know if they can resolve their differences. The Translator is a lovely little gem about faith, traditions, love, and two very different cultures.