Quiet City

A hauntingly illustrated novel that follows a film student through her artistic and existential fears in an age of profound uncertainty

“Are you lonely? Do you want to make art that says something real, from your heart—but you’re afraid? Read this beautiful book and take heed: you’re not alone, you are loved, be open to the universe, tell your story in the way that only you can. Quiet City reminds us that we live in an imperfect, impossibly beautiful world.” —Jean Chen Ho, author of Fiona and Jane

QUIET CITY IS A POETIC, VISUALLY STUNNING NOVEL that follows a determined film student confronting questions of identity, disillusionment with cinema, and what feels like the end of the world. 

The unnamed protagonist—a sophomore in film school in New York City—struggles with a lack of confidence while navigating the challenges of living in the city. Back home, her father faces early onset dementia, while her relationship with her sister is complicated at best. After the sudden loss of a close friend, she begins an internship with a former film producer named Mr. Mesmer, who is contending with the loss of his sight and hearing. Her job: to describe cinema’s most beloved films to him before it’s too late. Soon the film student finds herself reimagining some of cinema’s greatest movies, all the while experiencing moments of unexpected discovery. 

Novelist Joe Meno and groundbreaking visual artist Cody Hudson brilliantly capture the difficulty of finding your way through an endless modern labyrinth of uncertainty, loss, and fear in this one-of-a-kind narrative experience. Quiet City is a visually stunning, emotionally resonant novel that asks: Where do we find meaning in a world of seemingly endless noise, and how might imagination contain the answer to all our most difficult questions?