You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.

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
Slagtehal fem eller børnekorstoget by Kurt Vonnegut
Slagtehal fem eller børnekorstoget
—
Kurt Vonnegut

Slagtehal fem eller børnekorstoget

Kurt Vonnegut

207 pages • paperback • 1969

Shadowghast by Thomas Taylor

Shadowghast

The Legends of Eerie-on-Sea #3

Thomas Taylor

352 pages • hardcover • 2021

fiction fantasy middle grade adventurous mysterious medium-paced
A Leopard-Skin Hat by Anne Serre

A Leopard-Skin Hat

Anne Serre

122 pages • paperback • 2008

fiction literary challenging emotional reflective fast-paced
Fictions by Jorge Luis Borges

Fictions

Jorge Luis Borges

184 pages • paperback • 1944

fiction classics magical realism short stories challenging mysterious reflective slow-paced
The Witch in the Well by Camilla Bruce

The Witch in the Well

Camilla Bruce

304 pages • hardcover • 2022

fiction horror thriller dark mysterious tense medium-paced
Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Assistant to the Villain

Assistant to the Villain #1

Hannah Nicole Maehrer

352 pages • digital • 2023

fiction fantasy romance adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced
Menace by J.M. Darhower

Menace

Scarlet Scars #1

J.M. Darhower

348 pages • paperback • 2017

fiction romance dark fast-paced
Once More Upon a Time. C'era una volta ancora by Roshani Chokshi

Once More Upon a Time. C'era una volta ancora

Roshani Chokshi

180 pages • digital • 2021

fiction fantasy romance adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced
The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn

The Viscount Who Loved Me

Bridgerton #2

Julia Quinn

12 hours, 23 minutes • audio • 2000

fiction historical romance emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
East of Eden by John Steinbeck

East of Eden

John Steinbeck

601 pages • paperback • 1952

fiction classics historical literary emotional reflective slow-paced