Olympic swimmer Maggie Mac Neil, writer Linwood Barclay bound for ‘Canada Reads’

By Canadian Press on January 23, 2025.

Olympic gold medal swimmer Maggie Mac Neil and thriller writer Linwood Barclay are among the panellists set for CBC Radio’s annual book battle, “Canada Reads.”

The four-day debate over the year’s must-read returns March 17 with host Ali Hassan presiding over the theme, “One Book to Change the Narrative.”

Mac Neil of London, Ont., will champion Samantha M. Bailey’s psychological thriller “Watch Out for Her,” while Toronto’s Barclay backs Wayne Johnston’s “Jennie’s Boy,” which nabbed the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour in 2023.

From Vancouver, “Heartland” star Michelle Morgan takes on “Etta and Otto and Russell and James” by Emma Hooper, while Calgary pastry chef and neuroscientist Saïd M’Dahoma has “Dandelion” by Jamie Chai Yun Liew.

Vancouver podcaster and wellness advocate Shayla Stonechild will champion “A Two-Spirit Journey“ by Ma-Nee Chacaby, with Mary Louisa Plummer.

One book per day will be eliminated until a winner is declared March 20.

The debates air daily at 10 a.m. ET for CBC Radio listeners, with a live audio stream and podcast recap on CBC Listen.

The discussion can also be watched on CBC Gem, CBCbooks.ca and YouTube, and at 1 p.m. ET on CBC TV.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 23, 2025.

The Canadian Press