The Moroccan-French author Leila Slimani was featured in the Wall Street Journal magazine in December, talking about some of her favorite objects. Included are a notebook and pen!

In the front is a notebook. I’ve been writing everything in notebooks since I was 18. We write because we don’t want to forget, and it’s something very physical, like a picture of me but through writing. I see myself evolving through my notebooks. On top is my father’s pen, which my mother gave me when he died. It’s sort of magical because it disappears then comes back. I don’t write a lot with it, I just touch it as a way of talking to him.

–Leila Simani, WSJ Magazine, 12.8.22

The pen looks like a Montblanc to me, and I would guess that the notebook is from Emilio Braga. Slimani has lived in Portugal for the past 15 years, so it would make sense. The notebook has their characteristic binding style, and marbled page edges, though it looks like the pattern in black and white isn’t the usual blotchy composition book pattern, but rather a geometrical design. From looking at Emilio Braga’s website, it seems like they are diversifying their designs. I didn’t see this particular pattern, but it’s possible it was a limited run that is no longer available.

Slimani is the author of several novels, most notably The Perfect Nanny, which I found really creepy and horrifying. I can’t say I recommend it, though she is obviously a brilliant writer. I would like to try one of her other books someday…