In Quiet Spaces: A Quarantine Journal

by Casey O'Connell, Eric Aguilar (Illustrator)

In the spirit of graphic memoirs such as Blankets and It's Lonely at the Centre of the Earth, In Quiet Spaces is at once a time capsule and an admission of longing. With a series of intimate confessions and musings that center around the transformative, emotional experience of the COVID-19 pandemic, Casey O’Connell explores the compounding effect of forced isolation on archetypical twenty-something searching. Although she captures the universal experience of living through a global crisis with keen authenticity, O’Connell also draws a startlingly vivid portrait of Lyla, an insightful, intelligent character whose life is woven with loneliness, desire, and small joys.

As she navigates relationships, generational trauma, and a dramatically altered reality, Lyla struggles with private questions sharpened by existential How do you love the family that hurt you? How do you love a self that feels distant and shapeless? How do you love anything or anyone when everything is falling apart?

Alternately desperate, devastating, pretty, and poetic, In Quiet Spaces offers a powerful blend of uncertainty and optimism. With her simple, evocative prose and lyrical interstices, O’Connell’s writing is both a punch to the gut and a reassuring hand on your shoulder. Elevated by Eric Aguilar’s haunting artwork, In Quiet Spaces will leave you with the same longing and hope that imbues its sparse, beautiful pages.

Kindle Edition

Published February 14, 2025

Reviews

[Conor Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

"In Quiet Spaces" is a beautifully crafted reflection on the unique challenges and introspections experienced during the pandemic, perfectly paired with calming and creative illustrations. The author's poignant writing invites readers to explore their own emotions while navigating the complexities of isolation. It's a relatable companion for anyone looking to slow down, reflect, and find peace in quiet moments.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone who lived through the COVID pandemic should be able to relate to this story on some level, regardless of our particular circumstances. The way fear, uncertainty, and isolation forced us to question our status quo, and pushed us to adapt in sometimes uncomfortable ways. The surprising means we found to fill the gaps in the habits and relationships we were used to. The loneliness and self-reflection we found ourselves with plenty of time to be subject to. Casey O'Connell's prose, complemented perfectly by Eric Aguilar's illustrations, is a beautiful testament to "less is more" - a story that is ethereal in both its written and visual telling but which is no less evocative for the things that are not explicitly told. In that way, every word, every pen stoke, felt powerful and important, and by the end I was surprised to find myself near tears with catharsis. Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys a bit of poignant introspection, or anyone who might want to make some peace with a difficult time in all our lives.