Homage to the composition notebook

[JD4020]

Here's my short tribute to and recommendation for the humble little composition notebook. Yes, those marbled-cover notebooks with 100 sewn pages that we all dreaded in Jr. High english class. Who whould have guessed that one of the cheapest notebooks you could find, usually relegated to the bottom shelf in the office supply section, would actually be a great all-purpose journal/workbook/project book that takes fountain pen ink like a champ.

 

OK, so the real reason for my devotion. They're CHEAP! Now, I prefer to call myself frugal, but these are officially cheap, but still great quality. I've done Moleskine and Apica, Claire Fontaine and HP 32#...all great notebooks and papers. But that was the problem. I always hestitated to write because they were TOO nice. It just didn't feel right jotting down field planting records or ideas for a new shed or random thoughts in something so nice. So, they all ended up on the shelf. (strange logic that wastes more money than writing in them I guess). But, you say, they have those ugly plain generic cardboard covers. Enter in Art at www.renaissance-art.com (no affiliation, very happy customer). For little investment I had a custom-made leather cover with the wrap/tie closure that made the simple little notebook classy, practical and nice to carry around. And the leather is Ooooooo so nice.

 

So what prompted my praise this evening? Well, a visit to WalMart this evening revealed Norcom composition notebooks (with the Made in Brazil paper, my favorite) for $0.50 EACH. I walked out with 2 cases of various colored notebooks (36 total) for the whopping price of $18. For a little more than the price of a single Moleskine I have 3,600 pages on which to write, doodle, plan, dream, sketch, and do whatever my pen desires.

 

So while I still have great respect for the top-shelf notebooks of the world (and those that use them faithfully) here's to my new friend and companion: the comp book.

[le chat serein]

I've never written in a composition book with an FP, but I've used them to a certain extent in school. The paper was always nice, but I have a couple problems with them that I've never been able to get over, despite the low cost.

 

1) The unsightly cover. That marbling is bad enough with black, and when they put other colors on them, I just find them too hideous to look at.

 

2) That wouldn't even be so bad if it weren't for this: I hate writing on both sides of the paper in them, because the pages don't turn well and they get lumpy.

 

Now, call me picky (I SO am), but these are reasons enough for me to avoid the comp books as much as I possibly can.

 

It is, however, interesting that they take FP ink so well. What do you use on them?

[jmkeuning]

I second this sentiment. I have posted elsewhere on this forum about my devotion to the comp book.

 

Re: the above:

1. Renaissance Art. Alternatively, find something more appealing and tape it over the cover.

2. I have not noticed either of these symptoms when I write on both sides of the paper, and I often do.

 

Re: ink:

I use all my inks on them, but mostly Lamy blue and then many Noodlers colors.

 

I always have my comp book with me and I put everything in it. It mostly gets filled with work stuff, but I also write personal notes and I also tape a bunch of stuff in there. Anything that is interesting in a newspaper or magazine and cut out and either tape or glue in there.

 

When one book is full, I start a new one and carry the old one around for a while. I either copy or tear stuff out of it and put it in the new one.

 

 

The other thing I do is I number the pages (just the even ones, saves time). Then I create an index in the back. I record which date is on which page and then a few words about what is on that page. It works beautifully.

[jkenton]

---SNIP---

 

I always have my comp book with me and I put everything in it. It mostly gets filled with work stuff, but I also write personal notes and I also tape a bunch of stuff in there. Anything that is interesting in a newspaper or magazine and cut out and either tape or glue in there.

 

When one book is full, I start a new one and carry the old one around for a while. I either copy or tear stuff out of it and put it in the new one.

 

 

The other thing I do is I number the pages (just the even ones, saves time). Then I create an index in the back. I record which date is on which page and then a few words about what is on that page. It works beautifully.

 

Whoa, this is almost exactly what I do.

 

Except I encourage people who are concerned with appearance to get a real leather cover made to fit their comp book. I had my name embossed (I guess on leather it's STAMPED) on the front.

 

So, now the $2 grid'ed notebook looks like one of those $20 boutique jobs.

 

I get lots of compliments on my notebook and its carrier.

 

btw: the place I went to was PLE Designs. They offer like five colors (Tan. Med Brown, Black, Blue and Red), and the item description is "Leather Book Cover for Composition Notebook."

[Songwind]

Great reasons to use a comp-book. If you aren't comfortable "wasting" your good paper on mundane uses, who am I to say differently?

 

However, I did have a thought:

I always hestitated to write because they were TOO nice. It just didn't feel right jotting down field planting records or ideas for a new shed or random thoughts in something so nice. So, they all ended up on the shelf.

 

Have you thought about taking a few dozen sheets of something like HP 32# (or "just" 28#) and making a single-signature stapled notebook to carry around? That would be even more economical, plus you could put whatever cover you want on it.

 

My wife is very crafty, so I have picked up the habit of thinking in terms of projects.

[Neill78]

I've been using composition books almost exclusively this year, and I've got several on the go for each of my projects. I can't find good comp books here in Edmonton (actually I can, but they are too expensive), but I had several Japanese ones left over from my study abroad time and just picked up a bunch when I was there last month.

 

Danier leather was having a clearance sale and I picked up several leather covers and portfolios for between $7 and $15 each and have been using them for my comp books. Strangely enough the Danier covers were all Euro sized, so the notebooks fit perfectly.

 

I've also been using the pocket-size notebooks as travel journals as the paper is excellent and they are a fraction of the cost of Moleskine.

 

And I love the covers with their stately lines and odd claims like, "Gives best writing features" and "For happy life style."

 

Neill

[CCreag]

As a student, I too can express an appreciation of the composition book. Oftentimes, assigned a section of Latin translation or needing to do research for a paper, I will end up filling many pages with vocabulary, notes, and comments/questions. This is a necessary and unavoidable part of the "academic process," of course, but comp. books let me use fp friendly paper for daily notes and help save money for more pens and ink. Most notes that I take are used only the next day in class and to study for exams, so it is senseless for me to spend excessively on paper for this use.

Unlike most, it seems, I actually like the traditional black-marbled look. To me it seems very retro and a good match for a Lamy 2000, P51, or any other pen with a vintage, utilitarian style.

[miketo]

I've also been using the pocket-size notebooks as travel journals as the paper is excellent and they are a fraction of the cost of Moleskine.

 

And I love the covers with their stately lines and odd claims like, "Gives best writing features" and "For happy life style."

 

Any notebook that promises "happy life style" is worth an extra nickel or two. Who knows, it may even come true.

[AfterMyNap]

Help me out here, comp book lovers, I just picked up a couple Staple's brand and YUCK! Is there one brand preferred over another? Are you all talking about the Mead in particular?

[JohnS-MI]

Help me out here, comp book lovers, I just picked up a couple Staple's brand and YUCK! Is there one brand preferred over another? Are you all talking about the Mead in particular?

 

When I've used Mead, it's pretty good as far as feathering, but the paper is a little thin and dark inks show through, so I can only use one side.

 

[jmkeuning]

Help me out here, comp book lovers, I just picked up a couple Staple's brand and YUCK! Is there one brand preferred over another? Are you all talking about the Mead in particular?

 

I use Office Depot. I have gotten some bad ones.

[wvbeetlebug]

Before I discovered the basic lined journals at Barnes & Noble, comp books were my journaling medium of choice. They're cheap, give me lots of room to write and the lie flat.

 

I dabble a bit in scrapbooking and recently altered a comp book, just to make it a little prettier. You can Google "altered composition books" under Images for some ideas.

[Neill78]

Help me out here, comp book lovers, I just picked up a couple Staple's brand and YUCK! Is there one brand preferred over another? Are you all talking about the Mead in particular?

 

The Staples "M" series composition books/journals seem to be very good with fountain pens. The regular cheap ones are horrible.

 

I use mostly Kokuyo notebooks, when I can get them, otherwise Apica, which is easier to find.

 

I bought a couple of leather notebook covers that came with extremely cheap-looking-and-feeling "G-Leaf" ring notebooks, but despite their looks the paper is amazingly good. I don't know if they are made in HK, Taiwan, or China.

 

My university bookstore sells a lot of Mead and I haven't had any luck with it. The quality changes from page to page and sometimes I even get one part of a page that takes ink well and one part that just bleeds and feathers like crazy.

 

Neill

[rroossinck]

Terrific thread, JD. Which Walmart did you find these at? I might need to make a stop next time I'm nearby!

[manolo]

Could any of you please post a photo or a link to those comp books? they sound worth a try, but here in Spain I don't know if we have something similar or where can I order it from.

 

Thanks in advance.

[CharlieB]

The concept of the composition notebook is a good one, in that they have a fair amount of paper bound in such a way that the book lies flat in the open position. And they're inexpensive!

 

However, nearly every brand I've seen has a high degree of variability in the quality of the paper. It is pretty clear why this is so. They outsource the books to different overseas vendors for each production lot. Check the country of origin in the fine print on the cardboard cover. In my local CVS, there were Mead composition notebooks from Brazil, Vietnam, and Thailand on the same shelf. The papers of each had a different feel.

 

I can't live with that kind of inconsistency....

[Zoe]

Here's a link to the composition book here:

 

http://www.walgreens.com/dbimagecache/269423.jpg

 

It is a simple, pamphlet book, stitched and glued and probably similar to some you'd find in a drug store, supermarket or large stationary store. Years ago they had black and white covers, now I believe they have started making different covers and different designs.

 

It is often used by school children, inexpensive, light weight and easily available in the US.

 

Could any of you please post a photo or a link to those comp books? they sound worth a try, but here in Spain I don't know if we have something similar or where can I order it from.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

[JohnS-MI]

Could any of you please post a photo or a link to those comp books? they sound worth a try, but here in Spain I don't know if we have something similar or where can I order it from.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

This Wikipedia link may help with further info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composition_book

 

They are inexpensive, and whether they are FP-friendly is entirely a matter of luck

[JD4020]

Terrific thread, JD. Which Walmart did you find these at? I might need to make a stop next time I'm nearby!

 

Both Wally-worlds here in Ames have the same selection (as I'm guessing nearly every one in the country does.) At last check they were up to $0.60 ea.

 

Of the brands they carry, look for the Norcom brand. There'll be striped covers, marbled covers and color covers. The important thing is look on the back cover for where they're mfg at. Brazil seems to be the paper of choice by my experience. When I find a fresh shipment of those books I buy the box. Vietnam and Mexico papers in the Norcom books haven't looked or felt very good so I've stayed away.

 

Sometimes the Mead books have good paper, but not as consistent as what I've seen in the Norcom.

 

My experience with Staple's comp books wasn't good. They carry them in narrow-rule, which is nice, but the paper was terrible for FP. Plus they rarely have them below $2/ea. (Yes, I'm REALLY cheap!) :ltcapd:

[Silver54321]

I wish they came in college rule.