I got my copy of this little diary from the Folio Society on December 29, 2009... but one look tells me this book is only half as useful as I expected it to be.

The Good: The page size is ideal at 5.5 inches wide by 7.5 inches high, so it does not take too much desktop space when open. Nearly half the pages in the book are reproductions of public domain art. The other pages consist of diary spaces to give you an overview of an entire week per page, with large and generous spaces to write several appointments or a short synopsis of your daily activity. As with all Folio Society books, this one consists of stitched signatures bound together with a muslin lining and gorgeous hard covers that will last. There's even a bound-in ribbon bookmark to keep your place so you can close the book for privacy or desktop space conservation. So far, so good...

The Bad: The beautiful, quality binding job, and the scant number of pages in this slim book don't contribute enough weight to allow it to lay flat; hence you would need a paper weight or an extra hand to hold the book open while you write. A ringbound format would have been a better choice for a book like this. But even the tendency to not stay open isn't the worst drawback. The entire book is printed on a semi-glossy paper, which makes the artwork stand out even more, but is of the type that generally does not play well with a fine tip ball-point pen or a pencil, which are my preferred writing instruments.

I'll keep my little diary to enjoy the abundance of fine art included, but, as for writing in it, that's "a horse of a different color" (L Frank Baum - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.).

My Stephen King Library Desk Calendar will, once again, become the custodian of such appointments and notations I need to make throughout the coming year. Yes, it's big and clunky, and takes too much space on my desk when open, but the paper is eminently more suitable for writing. Sorry, Folio Society. ( )