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The 52 Book Club's 2025 Challenge - hosted by the52bookclub

Breaks the fourth wall
The fourth wall is an imaginary wall that separates the reader from the characters. We as the reader can see and understand the story, but usually characters don't know of or acknowledge the existence of a reader. When a character breaks the fourth wall, they're removing the barrier between the reader and themselves.

In literature, there are a variety of ways a book may break the fourth wall. One of the most common ways perhaps, is addressing the reader directly. (Think of the famous line from Jane Eyre: "Reader, I married him.")

Narrators may address the reader with side comments or an authorial intrusion. (For example, in The Princess Bride, the narrator uses asides marked in parentheses to comment on the story.) 

Breaking the fourth wall is also commonly used in metafiction. Metafiction intentionally references the work's fictional nature. An example of this is when the narrator or characters are aware of or acknowledge that they are fictional characters. 

While there are a variety of interpretations as to what breaking the fourth wall looks like within literature, for this prompt, we're looking for books that break the barrier between reader and character. It may be something occurring constantly within the book, or only a line or two sprinkled throughout. If you think that's happening in the story, it counts toward this prompt! 
All books added
The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting: The Tragedy and The Glory of Growing Up by Evanna Lynch

The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting: The Tragedy and The Glory of Growing Up

Evanna Lynch

13 hours, 1 minutes • audio • 2021

nonfiction memoir emotional reflective medium-paced
All the Living and the Dead by Hayley Campbell

All the Living and the Dead

Hayley Campbell

8 hours, 57 minutes • audio • 2022

nonfiction history emotional informative reflective medium-paced
Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen

Counterfeit

Kirstin Chen

7 hours, 20 minutes • audio • 2022

fiction contemporary adventurous mysterious medium-paced
The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother) by Rabih Alameddine

The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother)

Rabih Alameddine

280 pages • digital user-added

fiction contemporary challenging emotional reflective medium-paced
I, Partridge: We Need to Talk About Alan by Alan Partridge

I, Partridge: We Need to Talk About Alan

Alan Partridge

320 pages • hardcover • 2011

nonfiction biography funny reflective medium-paced
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 4 by Beth Brower

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 4

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion #4

Beth Brower

5 hours, 48 minutes • audio • 2021 user-added

fiction historical emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell

Susanna Clarke

846 pages • paperback • 2004

fiction fantasy historical literary adventurous mysterious slow-paced
Highway of Tears: A True Story of Racism, Indifference and the Pursuit of Justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls by Jessica McDiarmid

Highway of Tears: A True Story of Racism, Indifference and the Pursuit of Justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

Jessica McDiarmid

332 pages • hardcover • 2019

nonfiction race true crime challenging informative reflective medium-paced
1Q84 by Haruki Murakami

1Q84

1Q84 #1-3

Haruki Murakami

1157 pages • paperback • 2009

fiction literary magical realism adventurous mysterious slow-paced
Pericles by William Shakespeare

Pericles

William Shakespeare

245 pages • paperback • 1608

fiction classics play funny reflective sad slow-paced