Anne Donovan’s “Buddha Da”

Anne Donovan’s acclaimed debut novel Buddha Da is a contemporary story of a Glasgow house-painter’s conversion to Buddhism, and the impact this has on his life and the lives of his family. Seen from the perspective of three family members, using Glaswegian Scots throughout, the book addresses complex issues – social, psychological and philosophical – in a deceptively simple fashion. Christopher Nicol’s SCOTNOTE study guide examines the novel, its tripartite structure, its characters and its language, and addresses the larger questions of philosophy and spirituality that it raises. These notes are suitable for senior school pupils and students at all levels.