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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
All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson

All Boys Aren't Blue

George M. Johnson

313 pages • hardcover • 2020

nonfiction lgbtqia+ memoir race young adult emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced
Slayers: A Buffyverse Story by Amber Benson, Christopher Golden

Slayers: A Buffyverse Story

Amber Benson, Christopher Golden

8 hours, 2 minutes • audio • 2023

fiction fantasy adventurous funny medium-paced
Happy Old Me: How to Live A Long Life, and Really Enjoy It by Hunter Davies

Happy Old Me: How to Live A Long Life, and Really Enjoy It

Hunter Davies

304 pages • 2019

emotional reflective medium-paced
Eighteen: A History of Britain in 18 Young Lives by Alice Loxton

Eighteen: A History of Britain in 18 Young Lives

Alice Loxton

352 pages • paperback

nonfiction history informative reflective fast-paced
The Real Inspector Hound by Tom Stoppard

The Real Inspector Hound

Tom Stoppard

48 pages • paperback • 1968

fiction play challenging funny mysterious medium-paced
A Thousand Perfect Notes by CG Drews

A Thousand Perfect Notes

CG Drews

277 pages • paperback • 2018

fiction contemporary young adult emotional fast-paced
The Exact Opposite of Okay by Laura Steven

The Exact Opposite of Okay

Izzy O'Neill #1

Laura Steven

337 pages • paperback • 2018

fiction contemporary young adult emotional funny inspiring medium-paced
See the Cat: Three Stories about a Dog by David Larochelle

See the Cat: Three Stories about a Dog

David Larochelle

64 pages • hardcover

fiction childrens fast-paced
Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour

Black Buck

Mateo Askaripour

399 pages • hardcover • 2021

fiction contemporary race challenging dark funny fast-paced
The Stranger by Albert Camus

The Stranger

Albert Camus

3 hours, 27 minutes • audio • 1942

fiction classics literary dark reflective medium-paced