Impossible Object (novel)

An Impossible Object is a 2006 novel by American author Mary Robison. The novel tells the story of Liz Handley, a recently divorced woman in her late 30s struggling with grief, loneliness, and addiction. Liz is haunted by the recent death of her ex-husband, Grant, a renowned photographer, and battles an ongoing dependence on prescription medication.

The narrative unfolds in a fragmented and non-linear fashion, mirroring Liz’s own fractured emotional state. The book delves into her complex relationships with her teenage son, Nate, her eccentric mother, and various individuals she encounters in her everyday life.

Key themes explored in Impossible Object include: grief and mourning, the complexities of family relationships, addiction and its impact, the search for meaning and connection in the face of loss, and the challenges of navigating modern American life. Robison is known for her sparse, minimalist prose style, and Impossible Object is characterized by its short sentences, understated emotional intensity, and focus on the small, seemingly insignificant details of everyday life that accumulate to paint a portrait of a woman grappling with profound loss and attempting to rebuild her life.