Exit Papers from Paradise - Book Review
November 10, 2021
A well written and funny novel, with a little bit of introspective on how we procrastinate on things we want in life and how fleeting life can be.
From the Back Cover
Frustrated 35-year-old plumber Isaac Sullivan believes he has both the intellect and skill to be a surgeon. Forced to take over his father’s plumbing business straight out of high school, Isaac’s had dreams of attending the University of Michigan that fell by the wayside. However, the unfortunate setback didn’t stop him entirely. For the past decade, he has absorbed every medical textbook and journal available to him. For practical experience, Isaac performs surgeries on the wildlife around his house, preparing for the day he attends Michigan.
Yet the years continue to pass and Isaac remains stuck in Paradise, Michigan, as a plumber. That is, until this year, when an event pushes him to apply as an undergraduate for the first time. Exit Papers from Paradise is about the gap between the person we are and the person we desperately want to be.
Details
- Author: Liam Card
- Published 2012
- Publisher: Dundurn Press
What's the Story About?
Issac Sullivan is a 36 year old plumber and has spent the last 18 years being a plumber, but secretly wishing to be a Doctor and escaping the town of Paradise. The novel by Liam Card explores the life of Isaac — his work, his dreams, daydreams and efforts to leave Paradise and begin the life he wants.
Isaac took the SATs and scored high, really high, but he’s been pushing off applying to medical school for a few years - fear maybe? Finally he decides to do it and that feeling of doing something new invigorates him, leading him to take more chances in life as we continue reading the novel.
The story revolves around his inner thoughts and how his internal monologue expresses how he really feels about his existence in Paradise and the people he interacts with. We read about Isaac’s fears, his knowledge of medicine and anatomy and what he really thinks about people in Paradise.
The guy is messed up. Torn between what he wants and just not having enough of a push to start. We’ve all been there and that’s what makes the story compelling - he has plans and goals for his life, but is hampered by procrastination and his current existence.
Who are the Main Characters?
The main character is Isaac Sullivan and the story unfolds from his perspective in a monologue narrative. He is supported by his love interest Bronwyn Gallagher - a 19 year old high school senior, his crabby 70-ish year old father and a number of characters he meets during his job as a plumber.
None of the characters outside of Isaac have complex stories outside of what Isaac tells us. We know his dad injured himself and that Isaac had to take over the family business, we know that his high school crush told him he’d never leave Paradise (and that’s why she left him) and we know that his love interest is the best person ever (which, when we are infatuated with someone is typically the case).
So, What Happened?
As Isaac goes about Paradise, unclogging toilets, installing sinks and fixing pumps his internal monologue is witty and fun - sometimes it’s hard to discern his monologue from the actual conversation he’s having with someone, leaving the reader wondering if this is all in his head or really happening.
During the day, Isaac is one of two plumbers in the town of Paradise (the other is only mentioned in passing). At night, he is a medical doctor - learning and working on the animal carcases he hunts. He dreams of applying to medical school at Michigan State University, but has procrastinated for years. In a way, he represents a lot of us - a lot of potential energy, but not enough kinetic energy to actually start living our dreams. It’s true that Isaac has responsibilities in Paradise, but it’s more an excuse to not apply than anything else.
Finally Isaac gets the courage to apply. During the application process he meets his love interest Bronwyn Gallagher - a 19 year old senior in high school looking to get out of Paradise, whose age and fashion sense plant a wedge between him and his father. For Isaac though, it’s not a big issue - he loves her and hoping they go to the same college.
Application submitted, new girlfriend and new prospects lighten up Isaac’s future. He’s both in love and excited about leaving Paradise and living his dream of being a doctor. He’s turned that potential energy into kinetic energy.
Unfortunately, things don’t end well for Isaac and that’s where the story falls short. Liam Card does a great job getting us excited about Isaac’s prospects of leaving Paradise, but it turns out that the cards weren’t in Isaac’s favour. The story, for me, ended hard and I was shocked, saddened and a little angry. I wanted more, but was crushed by the sudden ending.
Was it all Credible?
We all dream of what we would really say or react to a situation in our head, instead of what we end up saying or doing. We all want to be the hero and the person with the kinetic energy to do things - not the person that just sits and waits and procrastinates. In this sense this was a very credible story and a fun read.
Would I Change it?
I would have definitely changed the ending. Wow, I don’t think a lot of people would disagree with this. The ending really threw me off and almost ruined the story for me.
Recommendations
I’d recommend the novel. Though the ending was a let down, it shouldn’t detract from how great the story was up until that point. Well written and funny, with a little bit of introspective on how we procrastinate on things we want in life.
