The Breathing Method

[karend3]

We all know of The Shawshank Redemption, The Body and the Apt Pupil from these collection of stories. Does anyone remember the last story The Breathing Method? It may start out a bit slow but if you finish the story you will be surprised, trust me good reading.

[constantreader85]

I enjoyed that story. I have read it 3 or 4 times. it was strange the ending.

[michal]

I recently reread Different Seasons and was literally astonished to discover this one. I knew there were four in all, but had no recollection of The Breathing Methods, although I must have read it.

It's a fantastic book, a real surprise in fact. Suppose that when I was younger that Club of Secret Tales held little charm in my eyes. Now, I wish someone would ask me to join...:laugh:

[bryras]

I really enjoy this story. I think the reason it may be overlooked is because of the other stories it has been grouped with.

[Matthew.Degnan]

this story is one of SK's lesser known novellas but i thought it was excellent-- i was thinking that it would make a good film but i wouldn't know how they'd do it and probs only be like 85mins long

[The Batman]

i actually found it kind of boring.

had it just been the story the guy told, as a short story in another collection it may have been ok, i think the whole rest of the story (the guy going to his "club") was pointless. the actual "breathing method" story could've stood on it's own

maybe if it were grouped in with some other, more supernatural stories, it would've been better. but after reading 3, fantastic and realistic stories, this one just felt tacked on to be kind of like "yeah, i'm still the same SK, still writing the spooky stuff". nothing against any of his writing, i love both the realistic and the supernatural, but this one just didn't fit the theme.

[CruelPuppet]

Yeah, I didn't get why The Breathing Method had to be told within The Club. Honestly though, at the end I kind of wanted to read more about the club. The 'lost' poems and novels and the brief view of the otherworldy landscape kind of creeped me out. In Dark Tower terms, I'm guessing the club is in a thinny?

Oh, and remember that one guy that started telling a story but didn't finish? About a guy who said he had something in the trunk of his car that he shot and stabbed but couldn't kill?

[worddance]

I loved the "men's club" parts of the Breathing Method. I really wanted to visit that club and sit and have a brandy with the guys. And I liked most of "the breathing method" story. I thought the ending stretched credibility a bit but then it is "speculative fiction" so I know it requires some suspension of disbelief. I guess I was expecting something more.


Mary

[fredo]

C'mon guys, it was a great story. As to why it was included with "The Club" as some of you call it. Think for a moment...think.
Question: Where else do we visit "The Club"?

[jchanic]

"The Man Who Would Not Shake Hands"

John

[fredo]

We have a winner.

[yankeesboi87]

I thought this story was pretty boring. I hate to say it, but I didn't like it. It was just... I didn't like the idea behind it. I love the other stories though. Just not this one.

[Lina]

I read this story about four years ago, so I don't remember it very well. But I remember that it impressed me. The ending of the story suprised me and I liked it very much. At least, I still remember about this story and I'm glad I've read it!

[cwalrus]

I finished this story recently and really enjoyed it. I enjoyed the concept of the cluband I would like to see the club again. I took the club to be some kind of a Twilight Zone kind of area but I can't say I fully understood it. If anyone here cares to explain it, feel free.

The actual breathing method story was very good and kept me glued to the pages. The fact that it was so over the top at the end worked within the framework of the story for me. It's like an urban legend of sorts but with sympathetic characters. I really enjoyed this story very much and I'm surprised that it's not as well known as some other short stories.

[AnnekoMartian]

I loved The Club. I always enjoy the thrilling-tales-told-in-a-gentlemen's-club motif, though, so perhaps not such a surprise...

Constantly Reading,
Anneko Martian

[Albie]

The actual breathing method story was very good and kept me glued to the pages. The fact that it was so over the top at the end worked within the framework of the story for me. It's like an urban legend of sorts but with sympathetic characters. I really enjoyed this story very much and I'm surprised that it's not as well known as some other short stories.

I am assuming the over the top end you refer to is the ending to the story within the story. You might want to google "Mike the headless chicken". Happened back in the late 40's and it is not an urban legend. A rooster had it heads cut off and then lived 18 months. While perhaps unexpectant, I did like the tale very much.

I am not an avid SK reader (so my opinion could be off base) but I found this nouvella to have a different feel as if SK was experimenting with another style -one he did well - but the feeling was not one he was comfortable with.

[pseudosomething]

I've been curious why The Club never surfaced again. I almost started a thread simply to ask why this was, or if maybe there's some as yet unpublished story in which it's featured, but asking in here works just as well, I guess.

[vinividivicci]

I didn't care for this story much; however, I mostly read the book for "the body"

What is it that others are seeing in "the breathing method"?

[pseudosomething]

What is it that others are seeing in "the breathing method"?

For me it was mostly the club in which the story was told. Its secrets were suggested but not fully explained, which added to curiosity and left lots of room for the imagination to roam. What is this place really, how long have men been meeting here to tell these stories, and so on.

[Er0tic NeUr0t1c]

Read this whole story on this past Christmas Eve. very fitting.

Loved it, very strange, very unique. I think SK just wanted to have some club to send people where you could sit down and chill and drink and listen to stories. As for the whole multi-dimensional thing that seemed implied near the end, hell if I know what it's all about.
True, the story could have been told without the The Club... but really? Could it have been? Really? It adds a sort of what-the-hell-is-goin-on kind of feel to the end.

Furthermore, SK said like an editor or something wanted atleast one horror story in Different Seasons and thats why he added Breathing Method. The others were to far away from his normal style. I think thats why he threw it in.