The best notebooks I've found yet I stumbled upon in stationary stores in Greece. They are A5, 50 sheets, with flexible covers and small grids. And cost ~1.5 euro each (I bought 10 of them). They are school notebooks, similar to the composition notebooks we have, except a little thiner, with soft covers, and slightly smaller. I don't know where to get them elsewhere (this looks similar, but no guarantee: http://www.kapsis.gr/product.php?products_id=4127), but I wish I could - the size, page count, flexibility (they'll lie flat, can have the covers folded back) is better than anything I've used, and they don't cost $10 each (or $20+ for some of the ridiculous ones). Cheap enough that I use them for everything, but nice enough that numerous people have asked where they can get them. I just wish someone would import them / make a similar product here :)