Can comedy be taught? Perhaps those in famous groups like The Groundlings or UCB would argue yes, but in the setting of academia, how much can you deconstruct a joke without taking the air out of the punch line?

The Material tells the story of the students and professors of a MFA centered in standup comedy in a Chicago University. We get to know a bit of each of the characters' personal lives, even though there is not much going on in the plot. It was interesting to learn about standup comedy as a profession and how they struggle to find success. Even though it was well written, I found this book a bit directionless so I struggled to care much about the characters. Not a bad experience though.

I read a review that titled this “the tortured-comedians department” which I the most apt description I can think of for this cast of characters. Despite being a book about comedy, it’s rather bleak. This story had potential- a group of students and a cast of professors from an MFA program in Chicago who, as it turns out, are equally as lost. We get a third person narrative, offering a glimpse into the characters minds, but never quite developing them fully. As a reader, I struggled to connect with any of the characters and any semblance of a plot fizzled out as soon as I thought it was going somewhere. With no investment in either the characters or the basis of the story itself, this one was hard to get through and I found it rather unfulfilling.

2.5/5

For a book about standup comedians, I really wanted this to be funnier. It’s less about comedy and more about comedy as Capital-A Art. I found the characters insufferable, and not in a good way. DNFed around 40%.

Feel pretty disappointed with this one. Trying not to compare this to her other book that I love so much because they are completely different things. Maybe the issue is like my distaste for most of the characters and maybe thats the point is like MFA students + famous people tend to be asshats and pretentious and these emotions clashing but most of them just kinda sucked. I enjoyed a lot of the history woven in but some of it felt forced and unintentional, story beats rely on weirdly placed events to make these things happen (the pretense of person being famous to allow story background to occur or character history to occur happened multiple times and never felt satisfying or interesting for that matter). Some of my largest gripes are with Olivia's whole character was just somehow so awful and just never ever did anything to make me enjoy her. The whole book taking place in the span of a single day is interesting but you never get a sense of time, so while time is moving, it isn't exactly cohesive to know when certain events are taking place over others.

Funny and sad to peel back the curtain of these people. Such an interesting concept but felt some aspects of the story were muddy.

A look at the inner workings of the minds of several comedians at various stages in their careers, as well as their students who are pursuing MFAs in comedy. In the course of a few short hours, we get to observe preparations for class, a faculty meeting, a class cut short by an active shooter drill (because who can get away from that), an open mic contest, and a midnight diner trip, but we are also shown the rich history and the family conflicts that drive these actors to chase the limelight, or at least connection.
As points of view switch, the reader can revel in the internal monologues while also choosing whether or not to agree. Strait-laced, over-handsome, and overeager Artie muses, "Intuition was for lazy people, it was for people who didn't want to think that hard," while Dorothy, a veteran of the stand-up scene who now teacher improv, argues herself into and out of an epiphany with blinding speed.
I was reminded both of Elif Batuman's The Idiot for the bright, lost, young people, and Curtis Sittenfeld's Romantic Comedy for the endearing cynicism of the comic writer.
Although, I so wanted to keep tagging along with this interesting bunch that I was surprised when the ride came to an end, I found the final scene as gracefully awkward as the rest of the book.

In Chicago, a top university established a graduate program in comedy. Now ten years into the program, its faculty, all comedians with varying levels of prominence, have settled into their program (even in the face of skepticism from many of their peers both at the university and in comedy), and have grown used to the fledgling comedians who come through the program each year. When a famous and controversial comedian is hired as a visiting professor in the program, the prospect of his arrival has a significant, and often surprising, impact on the faculty and students in that year's class.

This is a thought-provoking and timely story about comedy, how it changes over time, and the humor and sadness in a range of different interpersonal relationships.

Highly recommended!

Who knew a book about comedians could be so unfunny. A bad joke, but really I couldn’t stand this novel and I regret reading it. It’s like a mash-up of my least favourite things about theatre people and creative writing MFAs in a boring story all at once.

This follows a cohort at a stand-up comedy MFA program, including some faculty members, and their desires to make people laugh, the work of comedy, and how a master’s in stand-up might work. It culminates in a showdown between the students and Second City comedians, where a few pivotal breakthroughs happen. I’m a fan of plotless fiction, but there were too many characters here and no development. I could go on about why I didn’t like it, but I’ll say that I’m glad it’s done and I never have to read it again.

The Material was a really interesting read. I liked the concept of an MFA for stand-up. It wasn't quite as funny as I was expecting but enjoyable overall.

I loved this! Incredibly funny and interesting characters. This was a total impulse request based on the blurbs and intriguing cover, but it couldn't have been more successful for me.

The Material is the new novel by French author Camille Bordas. It's a novel about the teachers and students a in stand-up comedy school. The students Artie, Olivia, and Phil have to deal with their professors and mentors Dorothy, Ashbee, Kruger and Manny a visiting professor who is Manny in a sex scandal. Through out the novel you get to see the insecurities that both students have about their own survival as comics. You're only as good as your last joke. There is s anew Tom Brady roast on Netflix and it's kind of like witnessing how the sausage is made. You see when the audience love the jokes and when something bombs. I have friends who are professional comics and will be telling them to read this book. It's interesting how the writer gets into the mind of these characters asing why thy want to be comics and why we as audience laugh at the jokes. Is there something behind the storytelling. I truly didn't know where the author was going to take this book at the end. I was expecting a funny punchline ending but instead got something heartfelt and honest. I won't say what it is but will say read this book if you like going to comedy shows or have ever had the desire to standup comedy. Truly a fantastic book. Thank you to Random and Netgalley for the ARC.

3 1/2
"Is a comedian born or made?" This oft-repeated question in any artistic field is only part of what is explored in the novel "The Material" by Camille Bordas. The story unfolds over the course of a single day in the lives of the students and professors of a master's degree in comedy at the University of Chicago. The richness of this novel lies in its diversity of characters and themes. However, this very breadth can be a double-edged sword, as the book, in its eagerness to cover so much, is an exposition of themes without reaching any clear conclusion.
I wouldn't define this novel as funny, and I think that doing so works against it because it raises expectations that I don't think were the author's intention.
Despite these possible limitations, I enjoyed the reading very much. The characters are well developed, and the themes discussed feel remarkably real plot threads, it offers a rich and rewarding reading experience.

"¿Un comediante nace o se hace?" Esta pregunta, tan repetida en cualquier campo artístico, es solo una parte de lo explorado en la novela "The Material" de Camille Bordas. La historia se desarrolla a lo largo de un solo día en la vida de los estudiantes y profesores de una maestría en comedia en la Universidad de Chicago. Sin embargo, esta temática es solo la punta del iceberg, ya que el libro también aborda diferentes problemáticas que afectan a los miembros de la sociedad actual.
Yo no definiría esta novela como divertida, y creo que hacerlo juega en su contra porque genera expectativas que no creo que estuvieran en la intención de la autora.
La riqueza de esta novela radica en su diversidad de personajes y temáticas No obstante, esta misma amplitud puede ser una espada de doble filo, ya que el libro, en su afán de abarcar tanto, es una exposición de temas sin llegar a ninguna conclusión clara.
A pesar de estas posibles limitaciones, disfruté mucho de la lectura. Los personajes están bien desarrollados y los temas tratados se sienten extraordinariamente reales hilos argumentales, ofrece una experiencia de lectura rica y gratificante.

THE MATERIAL was such a well-written, thoughtful read, with a fascinating premise! While I really enjoyed Bordas's writing style, I did struggle with the pacing a little bit—the story takes place over one day, but I felt like it moved a little slowly at certain points. I also agree with other reviewers that people who are more familiar with the ins and outs of stand-up comedy, and what it's like behind the scenes, will probably enjoy this one even more. Still, I think THE MATERIAL has something for everyone to appreciate and relate to. If you're looking for litfic that is equal parts humorous and insightful, this book is for you! Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC.

I loved this novel. Deep with out being a pity-party. Rich and vibrant. Amazing job by author of capturing each voice/character and when perspective shifts, the reader gets such a deep sense of the unique way this character is seeing the world. Very, very impressive. Propulsive, a fast and delightful reading experience.

These grad students believe (mistakenly) that being funny can be taught but is Manny Reinhard the right person to teach them? This is set over the course of a single day and delves into the lives of each of the student. Oddly, this wasn't as comical as I'd hoped but I suspect those more familiar than I am with the comedy scene will relish the sarcasm. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. An interesting read.

I loved the author's previous novel, "How to Behave in a Crowd" but this novel left me feeling cold. It was okay, but there's just too many characters. I kept getting some of the characters confused which made for a frustrating read. The writing style is funny and well-written, but I just wasn't super excited about the plot. I also think the book was too long. It's a good book, but just wasn't for me.

Imagine a MFA in stand-up comedy. Who would be studied? Lenny Bruce? Rodney Dangerfield? Dane Cook? Mark Normand?

The Material is the story of a MFA program at Chicago University. It's one single day with the members and staff of the program, as they decide if a controversial comedian should join the staff. Classes, improv exercises and personal worries all make up the day, which ends with the students battling it out with the improv troupe from Second City.

Part of this was pretty 'inside baseball', so I don't know that a casual comedy fan would really enjoy this. I am a huge comedy fan and recognized many of the tropes going on with the staff and students.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This novel is set in a university where students are taking comedy courses in a master's program. There are interwoven relationships, trauma that is turned into comedic fodder, and a couple of scandals.

I really enjoyed it! It was funny and moving and a great character study of multiple characters. The conceit was clever and original but worked.