30 - Jason Derfuss

On today's episode of Chapters we meet someone for whom the phase "this book saved my life" is literally true. On November 20, 2014, Jason Derfuss, then a senior at Florida State University, had just checked out a few books at Strozier Library when he heard a gunshot behind him. Turning and seeing a gunman shoot another student, he ran for his life. Later, he opened his backpack and saw that the books he'd checked out caught a bullet meant for him. On this episode, Jason shares this story, and the story of his life through the books that have meant the most to him. We talk Harry Potter, The Scarlett Letter, 1984, and more. We also talk about the challenges of reading and writing when those very acts are wrapped up in a traumatic event.  

 

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