Ok, so we all know that Chuck Palahnuik has a unique writing style & seeing things that no one else can. In his newest book, He envisions a high school, but of course it's not a normal one. In this high school, all of the students are being surveilled, since birth! When they start disappearing, things begin to unravel......

What if the smartest high schoolers in the world don't go to college but instead, get sold to the highest bidder? Their parents get hundreds of millions of dollars and the teenager gets groomed to be the next "X" (Queen of England, for example). They don't get to realize their dreams of becoming a musician or a doctor, they have to do what Greener Pastures tells them to do. This makes for a WEIRD book, as Palahniuk tends to write, as you really don't know what's going to happen when you turn the page. I also didn't "get" a lot of the book, as I don't take LSD. Anyhoo, this book will also win an award for writing the word "avocado" more than any other book I've ever read. Not sure what that was about??

I liked the overall feel of the book even though I didn't get it or understand it. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

This is the Chuck Palahniuk I love. I was so worried about starting this book because his last book just wasn't for me. I was worried I had outgrown him as an author. This weird meta novel proved that I'm still a sucker for Chuck's brand of weird.
I loved the three different aspects the reader followed. If anything, I wanted more of the government hearing but was fully satisfied with what was provided.
Love a girl breaking down a system she could easily rule.

This was definitely a change in writing style from what I’m used to with Chuck. I’m happy to see him writing more experimentally and I loved the harkening back to the cover art of this book. This writing was very topsy turvy at times and left me feeling a bit disoriented.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions below are my own.

Avocado, Avocado, Avocado, Avocado

Paramecium

IFYKK

This is th Chuck Palahniuk that I know and love. His last few haven't quite worked for me but this was completely confusing and yet totally made sense in that classic Fight Club way. It's completely irreverant and yet speaks to the systematic brainwashing that occurs in education. Everything is exagerrated, of course. Or is it?

Another weirdo book from my bestie Chuck! I really liked it. Was I a bit confused? Of course. But I liked the vibe and weird reveals and the Fight Club reference.

In this one Palahniuk takes on late stage capitalism, the many pitfalls of the American education system, oligarchy, and the commodification of children. As usual, I love his use of literary devices to keep things focused and moving along, and I'm disgusted, shocked, and angry about some of the things I've read. I'm also thrilled to my core at some of the revelations carefully laced into this book. See what I did there? Go wash your hands.

I'm not sure why I expected much from this novel. I'm waiting for Chuck Palahniuk to produce something that doesn't reach to ridiculous extremes. The overall story was ok, but I really wanted less shock factor and more plot building.

I loved this book and was enthralled with the writing. I loved the character study. Would read more from the author!

For fans of Chuck Palahniuk, this book will not disappoint. Fun facts, interesting characters, and a book whose plot moves breezily along.

Palahniuk has produced a distinctly weird novel. His fans will love it. Those who really want to think will love it. I maybe loved it. Young people with enormous potential become a commodity in this dystopian story, where, for a huge payout, they can be removed from their lives and cast in any role the highest bidder wants them for. In a messed up system the lives of children are lifelong mind games to groom their responses to be certain way, and the results are brutal, grim, and graphic. This book features, self harm, child death, murder, maiming, and more, and operates on multiple levels. I don't think I understood all levels of it, but I look forward to think pieces explaining this weird and detailed novel.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Chuck Palahniuk’s Shock Induction is a dark, satirical exploration of a dystopian future where meritocracy and ambition have spiraled into a nightmarish reality. Known for his provocative and unflinching storytelling, Palahniuk once again challenges readers to confront uncomfortable truths about society, success, and the human condition.

Set in a near-future America, Shock Induction follows the lives of high school students who are under constant surveillance by an ominous online service called “Greener Pastures.” This service monitors and measures their every move, from academic achievements to extracurricular activities, with the ultimate goal of auctioning off the brightest minds to the highest bidders. The stakes are high: a life of luxury and servitude to the world’s elite or the risk of following one’s true passions.

The novel’s protagonist, Samantha Deel, is a standout character. Destined for greatness yet yearning for a simpler life, Samantha’s journey is both harrowing and inspiring. Her struggle against the oppressive system and her quest for personal freedom form the emotional core of the story. Alongside her is Garson, her once-dead boyfriend, and War Dog, a gender-bent interventionist, who add layers of complexity and intrigue to the narrative.

Palahniuk’s writing is as sharp and incisive as ever. He blends elements of classic literature with his own unique brand of dark humor. The result is a novel that is intellectually stimulating and deeply unsettling.

The themes of Shock Induction are timely and thought-provoking. Palahniuk examines the cost of ambition, the illusion of free will, and the ethical implications of a society that commodifies its youth. The novel’s dystopian setting serves as a stark warning about the dangers of unchecked technological advancement and the dehumanization that can result from it.

Shock Induction is a powerful and unsettling read that will leave a lasting impression. Chuck Palahniuk has crafted a novel that is both a thrilling dystopian tale and a poignant critique of modern society. Fans of Palahniuk’s previous works will find much to appreciate here, and new readers will be drawn into his darkly imaginative world.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the eARC.

I had no idea what to expect with this book nor did I have any idea what kind of reading journey Palahniuk was about to take me on. The writing in this book is so unique and different and I really found that to be so appealing. It was not always easy to get through but I really did find myself sitting at the end wondering what on earth did I just read in the best way.

This was really out there for my usual type of read. I have to say, if I ever see the word "avacado" anywhere from here on out, I will always think of this book. This was different, to say the least, but in a good way. Satirical but thought-provoking and a bit confusing at times, I couldn't help but love this. If you are looking for a unique read to really immerse yourself in that you find yourself wondering what the heck you just read, this one is for you. Four stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and Simon and Schuster, for this ARC.

After the shitshow that was Not Forever, But For Now, I was worried that Chuck lost his touch. But boy, is that not the case. This is definitely in my top 5 favorite Palahniuk books, not to mention one of his most digestible. Most of his books leave me completely lost through 50% of it and I really have to sit and think about what I just read (which I love, that’s a compliment), but I actually followed this one start to finish, and I’m so proud of myself for that 🤣. I love that his books are always a satirical critique on real societal issues, and this one is no exception. His take on the education system and those who hold the most power in this country was both hilarious and terrifying, and done in a way only Palahniuk can do. If you’ve never read him and are looking to start, this is a great place

I am a fan of Chuck Palahniuk's novels, though I feel like they've had diminishing returns since the early 2000s. And I was extremely intrigued by the premise of <i>Shock Induction</i>: overachieving high school students being poached and groomed for power by billionaires so they don't do anything meaningful with their genius (like cure cancer or solve climate change) and instead preserve the status quo? Sign me up! It promised to be a biting satire of capitalism and education, and I eagerly dove in.

But the novel just didn't deliver enough as a satire, as much as I wished it would. The narrative is through the eyes of Sam Deel, a precocious high schooler who's sucked into this seedy world once her boyfriend apparently dies by suicide, but then turns up alive and under the influence of a secret society called Greener Pastures. The parts where she grapples with the system of educational institutions and corporations colluding to poach the top 10% and use the rest for fodder were great, and there were many segments that so strongly resonated in Palahniuk's voice.

Ultimately, though, there's a very meta plot thread of <spoiler>drugs being administered through the pages of books</i> that undercuts a lot of the satirical elements of the novel. If all of this is a meta exercise in narrative and not being able to break free to exert free will (since the story is already written), then why root for anyone to overcome the system? Maybe that's the point. But I did feel like <i>Shock Induction</i> is trying to balance one too many motif-balls, and a few fall down as a result. I give this one 3.5/5 stars.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster for my copy of SHOCK INDUCTION. This one is out October 8.

I think my time with Chuck has come to an end. I used to get so excited when a new one came out, but I keep getting let down. This one I don't recommend. Maybe it's me, maybe Chuck was good for me twenty years ago, but not so much now. I do not recommend this one.

I finished this less than 36 hours ago, and yet I find myself unable to recall specific events or plot points. The story is there, the characters move about, but the plot, itself, is not particularly memorable.

What has stuck with me, however, are the themes and style. It's no secret that Palahniuk has lost his way a bit (to put it mildly) in his last few books, but Shock Induction is a return to the style that made him a transgressional punk icon in the 90s. This book is fragmented and purposefully disorienting to feed into the themes of mindlessness and brainrot, to steal a Gen Alpha term, that is now so typical: we are inundated with information, no matter how banal or inane, as we scroll and consume that we're constantly being marketed to or groomed or hypnotized into a kind of complacency or else an exhausted saturation. How do we break free from that? How do we turn off the noise? (Samantha does it quite literally in an early chapter.)

It's a book with big ideas and clever execution, some of which will likely go over casual readers' heads. For those in search of an absurd, obscene story of ghastly event after ghastly event (a la Invisible Monsters, Not Forever..., etc), Shock Induction will feel boring and confusing. But for those who allow Palahniuk's vision to consume the reading process, it can be rewarding, if not really enjoyable.

I was nervous to read this - I can be a bot of a scaredy cat with horror and gore and I know much of Chuck Palahniuk's work features heavy gore. I was okay reading this, but was often confused. I get that the author was trying to do something kind of meta, but about halfway through, I was barely tracking what was going on.

For readers open to something more experimental, this might be a great read! I just think it didn't come my way at the right time.

**Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for the eARC of this title!**

While I would consider Chuck Palahniuk one of my favorite authors - I hate about 20% of books. He is an eccentric and a nihilist and sometimes his books hit the mark perfectly for me. Other times (like with Pygmy - they do not.)

Shock Induction is a fun and fast romp that had all of the normal fever-dream elements that Palahniuk usually employs. Unfrotunately, this was one that didn't quite work for me. I loved the concept and even enjoyed the writing. With the way this book is structured I do feel that I would enjoy this more as a physical copy and think I will give it another go later on.

This one was a bit more disjointed than I could stand with the leaps through time and perspective. I will give this book another try when I am able to give it the focus it deserves. For now, Shock Induction is in the middle ground of Palahniuk's books for me. Definitely better than Snuff and Pygmy, but leaps and bounds behind favorites such as Diary, Invisible Monsters, and Fight Club.

If you are already a fan of this author - give this one a shot and let me know what you think. If you are not - please don't start with this title.