Millicent in Rome: a Novel

Abstract

Millicent in Rome is a novel about an injured woman who delays calling 9-1-1 when her abusive husband suffers a heart attack during an argument in their home. The husband dies, and she reels with guilt and an identity crisis struggling to make sense of her role in his death. She takes a sabbatical from her job as a Silicon Valley software developer and flies to Rome to come to terms with her self-described “monstrous” behavior and to reinvent herself. It is written from a third-person close point of view. The storyline focuses on self-awareness, self-preservation, and agency as well as self-acceptance. It examines the interactions between individuals as their relationships develop or conclude and emphasizes the importance of human connections and retaining intangible souvenirs from the global network of souls one encounters while traveling. Themes include: family, friendship, prayer, strength, and discovery.