Here’s another interesting antique notebook from my collection. I love the concept of a diary mixed with a foreign language dictionary. This would have been intended for a soldier who was being sent to fight in France during World War 1, so in a lightweight, compact package, the soldier (or other service member) could both … Continue reading WW1 Soldier-Sailor’s Diary
Back in December 2008, I wrote a post called Finishing a Notebook. At the time, this still felt rather significant as an accomplishment. My notebook usage before the early 2000s was often very fickle– I’d start one, decide I wanted to try something else, then maybe go back to something I’d tried before, then move … Continue reading Unfinished Notebooks
Over the last couple of years, it’s gotten to the point where I’m carrying quite a few notebooks around the house with me. Even if I’m not using every single one of these notebooks constantly, I know I might want to, so I like to keep them close at hand. And then I want to … Continue reading House Totes for Notebooks and Pens
I should have reviewed this notebook ages ago. I bought it back in March 2025, and 10 months is not the longest I’ve gone before reviewing something, but unfortunately, it was long enough for this product to have sold out. But since there may still be items from this brand circulating on eBay or other … Continue reading Jil Largean Notebook Review
Louise Carmen notebooks were featured in the New York Times recently. The article is dated Jan. 16, 2026, so I expected to see it in the print edition’s Sunday Styles section, but as of this writing, it seems to have appeared online only: A New Coveted French Accessory The article talks about the brand’s social … Continue reading Louise Carmen Notebooks in the NY Times
Happy 2026! I can’t claim to have any major new notebook plans to report for this year: I’ll be sticking with the tried and true. But sometimes, even the tried and true changes a bit. This will be my 9th year of using a Nolty Efficiency Notebook. I’ve really gotten into a groove with Nolty’s … Continue reading 2026 Nolty Gold Planner Differences
This notebook made by Asia Pacific Offset was a gift, but not a holiday gift. I received it in a roundabout way, with a sample book I needed for my job. Though I sometimes get free notebooks as samples, I can’t remember the last time I got a promotional notebook from my day job. It … Continue reading Promotional Notebook from Asia Pacific Offset
I don’t think I’ve ever written about this notebook, which is a surprise. I fell hard for the Nava Memoria 1992 diary the minute I saw it. It was sold in a store I was working at then, and since I had just been promoted, I made the case that I needed this diary to … Continue reading New Year, Old Planner: Nava Memoria 1992
Another reader has gotten in touch with a burning question, something I hadn’t really thought about much. Stephen asks: What are the optimal use cases for a notepad, as opposed to a notebook? I use Rhodia A4 and A5 Bloc pads all the time at my desk, ruled with that great ivory FP-friendly paper; and … Continue reading How to Use a Notepad
Orhan Pamuk’s Memories of Distant Mountains was published last year. I bought a copy right away but it’s taken me a while to review it! I wrote about Pamuk once before, quoting a passage from one of his books where he talks about his grandmother keeping notebooks that she wrote in every day. He must … Continue reading Orhan Pamuk’s Notebooks
