Flavorwire

We’ve  been taught it’s wrong to judge a book by its cover. But surely we can all agree that it’s OK to covet a book for its cover? Or, better yet, to drool over a series of colorful spines? The recent release of Penguin’s Clothbound Classics series reminded everyone of the pleasures of a whole row of shelf candy, but what if your tastes run to smart paperback design (and cheaper prices)? After the jump you’ll find a gallery of our favorite paperback series that look as good on the shelf as they feel to read.

Melville House’s Art of the Novella

Melville House began this as a tribute to the neglected art of the novella, and they’ve continued to publish classics of the genre with their distinctive Pantone covers. They now have a companion series of contemporary novellas as well, if James and Fitzgerald aren’t your thing. At $10 a pop, you can’t really go wrong.