The Best Notebooks Ever: A Detailed Review

First, to establish my credibility: I am a long-time believer in keeping a journal. I have finished 23 journals at this point in my life. I like variety, so I have tried a lot of different kinds. And I especially love writing in any notebook from family or friends, because I’m reminded of them as I write in it.

That being noted… (no pun intended), there are notebooks that stand out from the rest. Out of the 23 notebooks I have completed so far, 6 of them are Markings by C. R. Gibson “Debossed Soft Leatherette” notebooks. These notebooks are amazing. Usually every couple years I write in a new one of these journals, because writing in them is such a pleasure! Alas, C. R. Gibson has moved on and is focusing on other styles of notebook. To celebrate the passing of time, I’ve written a commemorative review on the characteristics a good notebook should have. In short, Markings by C. R. Gibson journals (shortened to “MCRG” going forward) set a standard of quality I’ll continue to search for in all other journals.

Firstly, what makes a good notebook in my opinion? A good notebook needs to be sturdy, and unlikely to flinch in the face of danger. I prefer hardcovers with a strong binding because I’m not easy on my notebooks. Another personal preference is I usually prefer notebooks that are neutral, jewel, or earth-toned. I like writing in bright notebooks too, but I find it more difficult to write a truly angsty monologue or a biting-your-nails suspense scene when the cover is large pink daisies. I like notebooks of a certain size, big enough that my hand can easily rest on it while writing, but small enough to fit into travel purses. I like notebooks with some sort of closure to keep them from falling open all the time. Lastly, for pages I prefer either no lines at all or thin lines that are so light or translucent I don’t feel like their blockiness is disturbing my flow. If this paragraph already sounds too picky for you or you can’t imagine why all of this matters, then I must forewarn you that this notebook review only gets more detailed as it goes on.
Before I started my first MCRG notebook, I didn’t yet know how game-changing a great notebook could be. There are so many qualities that combine to make MCRG notebooks one of my all-time favorite mediums to write and create in.

MCRG journals are durable and flexible. They lie flat no matter where I am, which makes life easier for my left-handed writing. The hardback cover is made of a great leatherette water-resistant (and other liquids resistant) material that is soft enough I can use it as a pillow in dire circumstances, such as when traveling through Europe or really tired. The cover is also infinitely tap-able and gives an air of getting the job done with no frills. The neutral colors that these notebooks come in are my favorites. They go well with everything, and I can imagine they are similar to hand-bound leather journals of a bygone era.
The cover, as I mentioned, is cushy enough to rest on but solid and unbendable enough that I don’t need a table or flat surface in order to write comprehensibly. This hardback feature is essential for me, since I love writing outside and while walking around.
MCRG’s magnetic closure is also brilliant. I can store scraps of paper and postcards in one of these notebooks, even low-key using the journal as a wallet, without fear of things falling out. Also, it is one more step trespassers have to take before getting in.

If all that isn’t enough, the MCRG journals are the perfect size. They aren’t tiny. They aren’t huge. They’re just right. MCRG journals fit in all my travel purses and tucked under my arm. Small enough to write with the notebook on my lap, large enough that the notebook is hard to lose. Goldilocks would be proud.
Another winning aspect of MCRG notebooks is the paper quality. The pages are thin enough to give a nice fluidity and make it a real accomplishment to finish the notebook, but thick enough that pens don’t bleed through too much. The pages are hard to tear accidentally but easy to tear out when you want to draw with friends. Have I mentioned the MCRG notebook that I accidentally left out in the rain that got covered in mold? I flipped out, but my mom helped me dry it off and somehow demold it and now the journal barely smells of mold. It’s amazing. The pages got really crinkly (the thing was soaked through) but somehow barely any of the ink ran and I can still read most of it! That’s a huge testament to the quality of the paper in these notebooks, because I know my pens weren’t fancy. Or meant to survive water damage. And the binding of that notebook is still perfect. No pages falling out or anything.

The lines on MCRG notebooks are perfect. The lines are small spaced to help with writing quickly and neatly. Also, the lines themselves are thin and light-colored. When I want to draw, I don’t feel like the lines are getting in the way.
As an added bonus, MCRG notebooks have a silky ribbon. Silky ribbons are fun to play with and mark time, and they serve as an incredible motivator. When I get a notebook with a ribbon, I leave the ribbon wherever it is placed until I write my way to it. That serves as motivation for me to finish the first part of the journal to get to the ribbon!

That brings me to the end of my sincere and nerdy spiel on why I love these notebooks so much. I continue to find and write in fantastic new notebooks all the time, but Markings by C. R. Gibson notebooks are the ones that first showed me that the style of notebook I write in can make writing easier, influence how I write, and encourage me to write more often.
Wishing you lots of dream-come-true notebooks,
Rhiannon