The Material: A Novel by Camille Bordas Horror full of tremor and of

full of tremor and of threat and of her peculiar genius for anxiety

implicating those she loves

”—Patricia Smith

“A bit like sitting down with a good friend who’s about to dish on some major life business…

The Material: A Novel by Camille Bordas Horror full of tremor and ofCan comedy be taught? Someone, at some point, seemed to think so. The Chicago Stand Up MFA program has enrolled young comedians for nearly a decade. Its teachers and students all know how bits workin theory, at least. They know that theres a line between sharp and cruel, that sad becomes funny at the right angle, that the worst is the best, the truth is the worst, and any moment of your life that isnt a punch line will either get you to a punch line