BOOK BRIEF

The Translator

Leila Aboulela
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The Translator

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2006

Book Brief

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Leila Aboulela

The Translator

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2006
Book Details
Pages

203

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Khartoum, Sudan • 1990s

Publication Year

2006

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

In The Translator by Leila Aboulela, a Sudanese widow living in Scotland navigates cultural and personal identity challenges. She works as a translator and forms a connection with a Scottish academic. The narrative explores themes of faith, belonging, and love, illustrating her journey towards understanding herself within different cultural contexts.

Contemplative

Emotional

Romantic

Melancholic

Inspirational

Reviews & Readership

3.8

2,486 ratings

56%

Loved it

32%

Mixed feelings

12%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Leila Aboulela's The Translator is praised for its lyrical prose and insightful exploration of cultural and religious themes. Reviewers commend its portrayal of a cross-cultural love story, though some criticize the pacing as slow. Overall, it is celebrated for its rich emotional depth and nuanced character development.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Translator?

A reader drawn to The Translator by Leila Aboulela appreciates introspective narratives exploring faith, love, and cultural identity. Fans of Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah would find its themes of diaspora and cross-cultural encounters engaging.

3.8

2,486 ratings

56%

Loved it

32%

Mixed feelings

12%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

203

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Khartoum, Sudan • 1990s

Publication Year

2006

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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