The little town we grew up in had exactly one stationery shop. That is where my love affair with notebooks began.

The shop usually didn't have anything that I liked, I just had to pick the least garish ones and try to love them the best that I could. I succeeded, regardless of the glitter and the inefficient little locks because many a time it was me and my shiny, chunky, tiny, or even crinkly little notebook against the world.

I had all sorts of notebooks. Journals were the most obvious ones. Writing journals has always been an excellent way for me to calm my mind. Especially because I am almost deviously introverted. Then came the to-do lists for academics, projects, shopping lists, to-be-read lists, and literally anything and everything else. Ticking things off a list felt, and will forever feel, like winning battles to me. Lists have also proven to be a lifesaver in classes and workplaces, especially when the instructions are multifaceted.

Notebooks are also bearers of nostalgia. My mother and aunts still have their lyric journals they kept when they were young. They would sit by the big radio and meticulously note down the lyrics to their favourite songs. This later inspired me to write down quotes, lyrics, and words I find comforting to look at when a day keeps getting tougher.

Another cosy and comforting idea I came across was to keep a leaf journal. It doesn't necessarily have to be limited to leaves. Keeping flower petals inside notebooks and pasting them with glue to write letters on the following pages could be an effortless way to add warmth to letters.

Speaking of letters, allow me to introduce you to a notebook specifically made for letter-writing. Subbir Al Razy, owner of Khero Khata saw the quote "Write letters, they last" in a post office long before hand-written letters stopped flowing so freely.

When phones arrived and the yellow envelopes took their leaves, he decided to pay his tribute to the craft of letter-writing by designing a notebook with that saying on the cover. Most of his designs represent Bangladesh with quirky slogans, and quotes from local poets and philosophers adorned by artwork from Bangladeshi artists.

If you want clean, basic notebooks, then Talisman is the place to go to. Their paper quality and craftsmanship is impeccable. Made with Love has you covered with their fun, bright patterns if florals match your spirit. Jatra – A Journey into Craft, Poter Bibi, and The Malachite Casket make notebooks that have kantha stitch patterns, hand-embroidered covers and arts of divine characters and tigers of the Sundarbans.

Notebooks can make the perfect gifts too. Do you have a friend who doodles on the margins? Get them a sketchbook. A coworker whose favourite colour is yellow? Maybe a notebook that says Holudiya Pakhi (Yellow Bird). Have a favourite poet? Hand them a customised notebook that has their favourite poem on the cover and notice how their face lights up.

Shimin reads everything she can find, talks to cats, and writes a lot of letters. Send her a book at shim.mush@gmail.com