(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter. And check out her latest book, Out of Water, now available where books are sold!)
Whenever I meet a notebook I haven't tried yet, I usually have to buy it (for science). That means, when I visit Anderson Pens, I usually leave with at least one notebook. Most recently, I left with this one: The Endless Works Recorder Notebook from Endless Works, a fairly new company based in India.
My first impression was that it wasn't thick enough. If I'm going to pay more for a premium notebook, I want to use it for a big project, like a novel or series of stories or reviews. But don't be deceived by this slim profile--the Endless Recorder uses Tomoe River paper, so it packs 187 pages into a much smaller space. 16 of those pages are perforated, at the back of the book. All the pages are numbered, and the front features a two-page spread for a table of contents. It also has a satin ribbon bookmark, an expanding pocket inside the back cover, and an elastic closure. The sewn binding also allows the notebook to lay flat when open, even without training the spine.
It seems basic. With the hard leatherette cover, rounded edges, and extra features, it is quite similar to a Leuchtturm 1917, or a Rhodia Webnotebook, or a Quo Vadis Habana… Or any of the other notebook varieties that also look just like Moleskines. So why another one?
The Tomoe River paper definitely makes a difference (though with their formula changing, that future is somewhat uncertain). This notebook uses 68gsm paper, instead of the more commonly found 52gsm, so the Tomoe super powers are even more on display. Almost nothing bleeds through this paper. Sharpie does a little--but not as much as I usually see. This paper is perfectly formulated to be an ink playground, and I think that's where it really stands out. If you're someone who likes to swatch and test inks, this is the perfect canvas for that. It would also make a great sketchbook, and would handle light washes or watercolor beautifully.
The A5 notebook is available in lined, graph, dot grid, or blank pages; and in red, green, blue, or black covers. All have the turquoise satin ribbon and closure band. They come in a cotton bag, with a card that allows you to register your notebook (to receive their newsletter) and a cute sticker that says "ideas are endless." I like these cute touches, even if they don't directly relate to the quality of the product.
I still prefer more pages in a notebook in that price range, so my current favorite (the Seven Seas Writer, with 480 pages) still holds its spot. But this Endless Recorder is definitely more than just another look-alike notebook with the same features as its cousins. It holds its own in the field, and does some things better than similar notebooks. They all have their own strengths and weaknesses, and I can see this notebook becoming a favorite for many.
(This produced was purchased at full retail price.)
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