ESV Single Column Journaling Bible

Note: This review is for this particular bind of the Bible and not for the translation. (ESV is my most preferred version.)I wish I could like this Bible more - but there are a few issues with it that just can't be overlooked. To tell the truth, I might have returned it for a larger journaling Bible had I bought it locally through Amazon. After waiting for a month to get it, I just don’t want to initiate a return process that might take long.What I liked:1. Cover: The beautiful teal colour with the resplendent cross in gold was one of the reasons I ordered this Bible - and it looks just as I expected it to be. Really beautiful and it has an inviting, old-world charm to it.2. Flexible Feel and Portability: The imitation leather cover feels good to touch and is well made. These types of covers tend to be better than hard paperback ones which will start to tear off in a couple of years of good usage. The bible is not that bulky - At slightly more than 2 pounds, it is within a 'carry-able' weight that you can take to church or meetings.3. Dotted Margins: The Margins are ample at around two inches. They are also dot-lined with a light ink - Fair on journaling works and splendid for taking notes.4. Single Column Layout: I prefer single column Bibles, so the layout works for me.What I didn't like:1. Font Size: Much to my dismay, this turned out to be the smallest lettered Bible that I have purchased to date. 7.5 is readable, but it is not that easy on the eyes. It is fine for poetic books like Psalms, parts of Prophets (where there are mostly small lines) etc. and even for some parts of New Testament where the texts break frequently to include minor headings. But wherever the text runs in bulk (Deuteronomy for instance), it is hard to read through. I wish at least the paragraph breaks were better.2. Pages: The much touted thick, cream coloured pages are neither that thick nor that opaque in the first place. There is ghosting of text and you can see the shadows of some of the bold texts (say, chapter numbers) across two or three pages. I expected better from all the great reviews elsewhere. Secondly, the smaller fonts coupled with the cream coloured paper actually makes for low readability. (I know cream coloured pages sound and may be even look nice - But what is going to be more clear and readable? Black on White or Black on Cream?). It would have come out well had the fonts or spacing been better of course.3. A Few Marks on the pages: There were a few blemishes (May be on four or five places – a couple of them in such a way as could be seen on the outside of the Bible). Not a deal breaker as such though.On the whole, I wish at the very least they had a better font size for this version. It would have made it a great personal Bible (The cover is so beautiful to pass by!). I am hoping to do some minor journaling (mostly with drawing pencils, coloured pencils that will sort of match the cover etc.) - so I don't expect too many issues on that front. But I don't know how the pages will fare when subjected to heavy journaling.

I love that there's room to write in it. Great for bible study.

Beautiful bible, love the journaling sides on the paper.

... Die Schrift ist mir viel zu klein, leider...

A really nice Bible with a lovely cover. It has space at the sides for writing notes or drawing.

Great bible with good and nice translations, is just that wish that those pages are a bit thicker. Other than that,all is good