This journal is nice to hold and write in. It is set up A,B,C order and has blanks to write the title, author, dates read, and thought of what you read. It also provides space for favorite quotes from the work. I didn't have any problem with bleed through from the pages with a standard ink pen or pencil. I also tried a fountain pen and with it I slid another piece of paper behind the page I was writing on, just in case, but it didn't bleed through. The size is good for a purse or bag, but a little to big for sliding in a pocket. This is a really nice product for people who like to keep track of what they read, when, and what their thought are about what they read. It would also make a great gift to a reader.