The Breathing Method

**fredo** · August 20th, 2009

We have a winner.

**yankeesboi87** · August 25th, 2009

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** · August 28th, 2009

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** · September 15th, 2009

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** · October 6th, 2009

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** · October 16th, 2009

Originally Posted by cwalrus

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** · November 9th, 2009

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** · November 9th, 2009

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** · November 9th, 2009

Originally Posted by vinividivicci

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** · January 6th, 2010

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.