Judging the book by its cover
589289
So often we judge a book by its cover.  This book is about judging people by their covers.  So often we form initial impressions and we don't work at finding out what is behind them.  Both the main characters have been judged by their covers over and over.  They look past the covers and find out the real people inside.  Some action, new identities, a 'kidnapping' are also involved.  I don't think this book is great literature, but it certainly was fun to read.
2815055
My friend told me I might like this book and I heard that it would be part of a series, so I thought I'd give it a go.

THe story is good.  Engaging, really.  But the problem I have is with the cover.  This is another example of an author with an ego so big he or she feels compelled to put their name on the cover.  I'm hear to read books, not author names.  If Mr (Ms?) Rowling ever decides to remove their name and just let the reader enjoy the story, I'll give this another star.
1385606
The cover art is not very appealing to be honest.
But other than that, the content was a fun read.
It offers a more modern perception of the many versions of an old tale with its own re-telling.
1350302
I too fell for the front cover.  As a big fan of Peter Benchley's works, I was excited when I found what i thought was a new title from him, and featuring the man-v-nature genre no less, my favorite, oh goody!  When i started reading it, however, i was struck by a feeling of "sumthin aint' right here..."  It just didn't "feel" like Benchley.  i looked online for information on the book, and was surprised to find it missing from any list of Benchley's novels.  just by chance i set the book on the side of the desk to search, and happened to glance over and see the name "Rob Macgreggor" on the spine.  this led me here, and I wanted to add my name to the list.  Yes it's my own fault for not seeing the name before i bought the book, but who would expect something with "Peter Benchley" -or any author's name, for that matter- prominently on the cover, above the apparent title, to not actually be by Peter Benchley(not to mention the cutout in the cover art, just like the PB cover of "White Shark,")?  I rather doubt this is accidental, and it ticks me off either way.  this is the kind of shenanigans I expect from wave-riding movie studios(you know, the ones responsible for titles like "Terminators," One-hundred-million BC," or "Relative Evil" printed in fonts very similar to the "inspiration"), not book publishers.  MacGregor should be on the front cover.  don't get me wrong; there's nothing intrinsically wrong with a book based on another's work if the original author gives the OK, but here i feel like they went out of their way to NOT make it clear that this was the case.
1543684
The image of a cover shown on Amazon.com is wrong. It is of another book.
4565408
It's a nice book but not what I expected. The drawings look like those done by children, which is fine if that's true (I can't find info about it in the description section), but I wouldn't have bought it if I'd known that as I was attracted to a certain look based on the cover, which deteriorates as the pages go by in my opinion. It's also a very BIG book. Very tall and awkwardly sized. I was hoping for something smaller, at least by half. I was going to give it to a friend who recently lost her dog but won't now because of its size. I've shelved it and will probably just donate it now. It was also a bit too religious (I get it - "heaven" means there'll be some of that but it took over the book) and God was a white man. (Really??)
4905078
Dear Sirs,
I have not used the book a lot, but it is good enough to give me pleasure every time I recognize its well composed book cover.
Sincerely.
Alf Taraldsen
1659727
I love this book, and I'm excited about the additional material, but I was disappointed by the cover. The picture is of a box/sleeve the book comes in. The book itself has a different cover and is probably my least favorite of all the covers I've seen for Golden Compass. It looks kind of childish. If I'd seen it in person first I probably would not have bought it.
3016680
If you're just looking to kick back and read light then it fits the bill.  Just don't look at the cover.  Unfortunately, this book is a fine example of one huge pet peeve of mine.  Covers that don't match the book.

I have already had my rant on this elsewhere so no use going into it again.
2742050
It was better if I could see the image of book.
even that, I am happy about it. It was book I want it.
2472195
Cover is different than depicted, and there are smudges on the pages that were not noted in the description of the book's physical condition. However, the book is the story I wanted it to be, and my son enjoys it, so at least that's something.
4635704
dust cover is worn heavily, book itself is in acceptable condition.  Spine is worn in several places through out the the book.
3472305
Beautiful book, slightly used - but, could not really tell.
529248
The picture of the book is in accurate. I was hoping to get the original copy of the book si it would complete my collection. Instead I received the book with the newer cover art. So the picture is deceiving.
4537806
Here's the book that I shall be handing out this summer for enjoyable beach time reading - a book that can surely be judged by its cover.
4583155
I've not read the book, but as an Eastern Orthodox priest who also moonlights as graphic designer of book covers in order to pay the bills, I'm a bit disturbed to see a "Russian Orthodox cross" on the cover of a book about Protestantism.  The fact that this cross adorns the cover is not so much troubling as the fact that it is shown backwards.  The "three-bar cross," as is well known among the Orthodox, is a cross that fully illustrates the various points of content surrounding the crucifixion of Christ.

First the middle bar is simply the bar upon which Christ's hands were nailed.

The short upper bar was the bar upon which was displayed the notice indicating who was being crucified and for what reason.  In the case of Christ, the sign read "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews".

The bottom bar represents the "footrest" of Christ, where his feet were nailed.  On the three-bar cross, the right side points upward toward the thief on Christ's right side who honored Christ and who Christ proclaimed would join Him in Paradise.  It points downward on the left side toward the thief who rejected and mocked Christ.

The problem with the image on the book cover is that it is reversed.  The "right" side of this cross is actually reckoned as Christ's right side.  Therefore, when you are facing a three bar cross from the front, as it should always be represented when placed on book covers, then the side to the left (which would be Christ's right side) would be the side that points upward.

To place such a cross backwards on a book cover displays an ignorance of the image being used and also suggests a lack of understanding of the beauty and theology inherent in the three-bar cross.  In this case, it appears that the designer didn't do his research and was ignorant of the issue.
2248107
I just got the book from the library and it is a doorstopper; however I noticed that all the prepress and editorial reviews were all glowing while the true readers from Amazon less than glowing. I give the Amazon reviewers more credence and I'll post after I've finished reading, if I can finish! I give it 3 stars for the cover art improvement.