Stop journalling, start keeping a notebook

I’ve always been really bad at journalling (I’ve a few attempts, some more successful than others), but I really like pretty notebooks and reading this history of the notebook has inspired me to focus more on keeping a notebook rather than journalling. Let me explain:

The Notebook takes us through the history of the notebook, from its use as a permanent record for transactions (parchment could be scrapped clean, thus susceptible to tampering) to its evolution into a household item and then a more personal item. Along the way, Allen introduces the many ways that the notebook has been used, and three that I found interesting are:

1. Zibaldone: This is a personal notebook where you capture any piece of writing that catches your fancy, from poems to recipes, from songs to list, it’s an eclectic mix.

2. Alba Amiconnu: This is a friendship book (predating the autograph book, where you collect signatures of peope you don’t know) for your friends to write in – perhaps draw a picture, write a verse or a message, etc. This also served as proof of one’s social connections.

3. Commonplace Book: Similar to a Zibaldone where you collect pieces of writing from different sources, commonplace books are unique because they focus on quotes and because the quotes are organised by topic.

As you can see, none of these three uses are journalling (perhaps the Zibaldone comes closes). So now, I have new inspiration for my notebooks - one that I would definitely want to do is the Alba Amiconnu, which means I need to think about how to ask people to write in it (and not just sign their name). I’m pretty excited about all those unused notebooks in my house now!

#lemon8bookclub #BookReview #nonfictionbooks #nonfictionreads #notetoself

1/17 Edited to

Many people like me find traditional journalling challenging to maintain, often because it feels too rigid or focused solely on recording daily events. Discovering alternative uses of notebooks, such as the Zibaldone, Alba Amiconnu, and Commonplace Books, has transformed how I engage with my notes. The Zibaldone encourages capturing diverse interests—anything from song lyrics to recipes—making note-taking an enjoyable and eclectic habit rather than a chore. Alba Amiconnu, a friendship book, invites contributions from friends, which adds a social and creative dimension by collecting verses, doodles, or messages, making the notebook a vibrant shared memory. Turning notes into songs or creative prompts, as sometimes happens in my notebooks, shows how a notebook can evolve with you, reflecting your personal journey and creativity rather than a strict record of days. This flexibility has made me appreciate keeping notebooks over traditional journalling and given new life to my unused notebooks. If you’re like me and struggle with journalling, I highly recommend experimenting with these notebook styles. They can transform note-keeping into a more spontaneous, enjoyable, and richly rewarding practice that reflects your personality and relationships more than a journal ever could.