[Watermoon]

Pocket notebooks, slim and handy. Having used two Moleskine Cahiers, I found them good for short-term writing, like lists and phone numbers, but not for notes that are meant to stay. Why? Because the cover tends to disintegrate, especially during a muggy summer. And the paper's fountain-pen-friendliness is variable, as we know.

The other day at Nota Bene (Montréal), I found these two alternative to the Cahiers: Rhodia and Mecum.

This small Rhodia is called "classic staple-bound notebook". Smaller than the Cahier (75 x 120 mm), but with a glossy, durable cover, bright orange like the rest of the family, and some top-notch 24 pages of white, squared, 80g paper. Extremely suitable for fountain pens, of course. My current "idea" notebook, thin enough for slipping in any pocket, or at the back of my pocket-sized Quo Vadis. It also fits inside a Levenger International Briefcase. Clairefontaine makes a similar pocket notebook, same size, but with its trademark cover design and colors.

The other one, Mecum, is more exotic. It's made in Italy, the paper is recycled, and the cover is a thin and soft sheet of recycled leather. The skin has lost its gloss, only the inside layer has been kept. For now, it looks more durable than the Cahier's cover, although it might get worn-out in time. There's a bright red elastic band across the cover, much like the Ciak. In fact, it looks like a Ciak on a diet: thinner, lighter, with its horizontal elastic band. Inside the cover, a one-page text on a red sheet of paper, in Italian and English, seems like an attempt at mythologizing the notebook (like you-know-who), this time with a quote from Stilpo the Greek philosopher (4th Century B.C.). Hence the Latin name, maybe. The 40 pages are very fountain-pen friendly - no feathering with the ones I tried: F, M, OF nibs all behaved with Noodler's Legal Lapis and Diamine Sepia. Even the wet medium-nibbed Phileas didn't leave a trace visible on the other side of the page. The paper isn't glossy, the lines are a pale grey, and like a lot of recycled paper, it's sprinkled with particles of what looks like recycled ink. Nothing disturbing, though. The maker is Arbos (arbos.it).

Whether you prefer orange or recycled, the price might be a factor: the pocket Rhodia can be found for $1.50 or $2.40, depending on where you buy it. The stylish Mecum is $7 -- an exclusive import, I was told at Nota Bene (nota-bene.ca). I'll stick with Rhodia (rhodiadrive.com).

The picture shows, L to R: Rhodia, Mecum, Cahier. But I'm sure you'll recognize them.

 Mecum.jpg (57.87K)
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This post has been edited by Watermoon: 21 February 2008 - 02:34 AM

[flymark]

Watermoon: The cahier on the right appears grey - is that a cover you've made for it (i thought cahiers only came in black and brown kraft)? I continue to search for substitutes for the moleskin cahier, though I like the utility offered because the last 16 (?) pages of the moleskine are removable. Presently I'm using a Rhodia No. 11 (2.9 inches x 4.1 inches) with a matching leather cover. The paper is great to write upon, but I still miss the SIZE of the moleskine cahier and the fact that it was easy to get through my permanent notes, yet use the back pages for removable lists or notes that I knew I would not have to refer back to ever. On last question, are any pages of the Mecum removable? Thanks, FlyMARK

[Watermoon]

No, flymark, the cover looks grey, but it's still a tan Cahier. Perhaps the lighting made it look grey, or the contrast with the background.

And the Mecum has no detachable pages. You can also use the Rhodia pad No. 12, closer to a Moleskine size.

I have to add to my review that the Mecum looks friendly... because of its flexibility. The cover will bend in your pocket, but won't get creased.
Also, the red elastic will prevent the cover from being folded over. And the red is quite attractive!

If I were you, I would reserve a few middle pages of a notebook, and simply detach them by pulling two at a time. Instead of tearing out the last one, which would put the first one at risk. I'm talking about a stapled notebook, of course, not one with perforated pages at the end.

[Possum Hill]

I like the Rhodia notebooks. They're also available with black covers. You can get either at Pendemonium

Regarding size, 24 pages gives 48 sides.

[R J]

I always carry a black plain Miquelrius pocket flexible notebook with me.

[aka]

wow.. if that is tan... i think i need to go see a doctor!!!!