Heartland actor Michelle Morgan champions Etta and Otto and Russell and James by Emma Hooper
Canada Reads will air March 17-20 on CBC TV, CBC Radio and CBC Books
Heartland actor Michelle Morgan is championing the novel Etta and Otto and Russell and James by Emma Hooper on Canada Reads 2025!
Morgan is an actor and filmmaker of Chilean descent, best known for playing Lou in CBC's Heartland.
The great Canadian book debate will take place on March 17-20. This year, we are looking for one book to change the narrative.
The debates will be hosted by Ali Hassan and will be broadcast on CBC Radio One, CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC Listen, YouTube and CBC Books. Canada Reads airs at 10 a.m. ET (11 a.m. AT, 1:30 p.m. NT) on CBC Radio One and 1 p.m. ET (2 p.m. AT, 2:30 p.m. NT) on CBC TV. You can tune in live or catch a replay on the platform of your choice.
A passion for storytelling
Morgan's role in Heartland isn't just the part of Lou, she's also directed multiple episodes. Currently in its 18th season, Heartland is the longest-running one-hour drama in Canadian television history.
Morgan's other acting credits include Virgin River, Batwoman and The Good Doctor. She has also directed the award-winning short films Mi Madre-My Father and Save Yourself and the CBC digital series Hudson.
Morgan is an advocate for women's rights and has partnered with women's shelters across Canada, including The Brenda Strafford Women's Shelter and Homefront Calgary, and teaches workshops for survivors of domestic violence.
A graduate of literature and theatre from the University of Toronto, Morgan is looking forward to showcasing her literary side on Canada Reads.
One woman's journey
Morgan loves books that bring engaging characters to life with excellent writing and world-building. That's why she picked Etta and Otto and Russell and James, a heartwarming and original literary novel about love, joy, memory and a journey that weaves past and present.
In Etta and Otto and Russell and James, 82-year-old Etta decides to walk 3,232 kilometres to Halifax from her farm in Saskatchewan to fullfil her dream of seeing the ocean. With little more than a rusty rifle and a talking coyote named James for company, she begins her adventure, and in the process, her early life with her husband Otto and their friend Russell is revealed in flashbacks.
While Russell wants to bring her home safe, she's committed to making her way to the sea and before returning to her husband who will always wait patiently for her to come back.
Emma Hooper is a Canadian musician and writer. Her other novels include Our Homesick Songs, which was on the longlist for the 2018 Scotiabank Giller Prize, and We Should Not Be Afraid of the Sky. She also holds a PhD in music-literary studies and has published her research on many related topics. Raised in Alberta, she currently lives in England.
