Breaking the Fourth Wall
Breaking the Fourth Wall in A Perfect Finish
On this website, you can find an index for the paperback version of the book, which links to all the instances of breaking the fourth wall.
Just in case, here is a definition:
Breaking the Fourth Wall refers to the narrative technique where characters or the narrator acknowledge the reader’s existence or directly address the reader, thus breaching the imaginary wall between the story and the reader.
Angi Beams Like a Full Moon
As you may have noticed, Angi really likes Steve. He’s always sweet to her, but doesn’t seem to notice her attraction to him. Every time she sees him she beams like the moon. As the story progresses, the phases of the moon also progress:
- Buck Moon: occurs in July when male deer start to grow antlers
- Sturgeon Moon: occurs in August when sturgeon are most readily caught
- Harvest Moon: occurs closest to the autumnal equinox (late September), providing extra light for famers to harvest their crops
- Hunters Moon: occurs typically in October when game is hunted in preparation for winter
So where is the fourth wall broken? You probably noticed as you were reading, but in case you didn’t, you can find it in the index.
How Does Steve Feel?
Some people tried to interpret Steve as being written autobiographically. I did channel my late brother a bit in forming his character. In terms of someone I’d rather be, Kyle and Ron are capable, honest, and sensible.
On the other hand, Steve is a total space case and keeps getting his ass kicked by every other character in the book–he doesn’t have enough wins. Meriwa eats him for lunch. Harold hands him his ass. Clyde gets him spinning like a top. Akiko pounds him like a schnitzel. Daisy berates him like he’s a child. A lot of beta readers and editors really took exception and tried to intercede on Steve’s behalf. I’m not very good at explaining how Steve feels about all this abuse (Steve gets kicked in the balls and bends over, convulsing: “But how does he feel?”). Also, many readers really complained about Steve not being supportive of the crazy-ass business (“How can the reader be invested in the assistance-in-dying business if Steve isn’t?”). There came a time when I had to decide to give Steve a total personality transplant and transform him into an assistance-in-dying disciple or tell such readers to take a hike. You can imagine which one I chose.
The result is chapter 22: Co-authors, which was written last and tacked on at the end. For all of you who read the book and suggested that I toughen up Steve’s character, rip out the love stories, and tame Meriwa, please give the chapter another read, imagining that the characters are speaking not to each other but rather directly to you, the reader.
See the index referring to the paperback edition for references to all the instances in A Perfect Finish that break the fourth wall.
Go back to About A Perfect Finish