Excellent book. I would recommend any of Renald Shower's books to anyone who desires to get a better grasp of the Scripture. I have all of his books and use them quite frequently.

One of the best general commentaries on Daniel from a dispensational/premillenial viewpoint.

I admire Mr. Shower's view of the Bible. He has done a great job summarizing the book. The material is not indepth however it goes into enough information that any body reading it would say that his material is a great tool. I sometimes have a hard time reccomending a book especially to new believers, but if there is a new believer interested in studying the basics of the contribution of Daniel, then this is a great read!

The New Interpreter's Bible is a twelve-volume series, updating the popular Interpreter's Bible from a few decades ago. There are several key features common to all of the volumes of this series. First, each includes a two-column, double translation of the Biblical text (NIV - New International Version, and NRSV - New Revised Standard Version) arranged by topical unit or story. Then, they provide commentaries that look at the passages as a whole, as well as verse-by-verse. Third, interesting Reflection pieces that relate the passages to each other, to history, and to current concerns occur at the conclusion of each passage. Fourth, introductory articles for each book are provided that discuss transmission, historical background, cultural setting, literary concerns, and current scholarship. Finally, there are general articles about the Bible, each Testament, and various types of literature (Narrative, Gospel, Wisdom Literature, etc.) are provided to give general placement and knowledge about the text overall.

The list of contributors, editors, and consultants on the project is a veritable Who's Who of biblical and theological scholarship, representing all major traditions and schools of thought liberal and conservative. Leander Keck, of the Yale Divinity School, is the primary editor of the series.

The volumes were published individually, and can be purchased individually, which is a good thing, given that they are a bit expensive. But for any serious biblical scholar, preacher, student, or enthusiast, they are invaluable.

--Volume IV--

The fourth volume of the New Interpreter's Bible finishes a look at the 'histories', more precisely termed in the NIB as Narrative Literature, with the apocryphal books I and II Maccabees. Then it turns to looking at the books that form the heart of ancient Hebrew poetry, the books of Job and the Psalms.

Adele Berlin of the University of Maryland provides a general article on an Introduction to Hebrew Poetry. One of the first difficulties addressed is the difficulty of determining just what is poetry in the Hebrew Scriptures. Looking at familiar concepts such as meter and rhythm, rhyme and patterns, Berlin also addresses ideas unique or at least more characteristic of Hebrew poetry, such as terseness, certain kinds of parallelism, and context and themes. Finally, Berlin discusses the reason for poetry - to be read and spoken. 'Most scholarly analysis of biblical poetry has concentrated on its measurable features, such as formal structuring devices, repetition, parallelism, meter, and the like. Commentaries generally offer line-by-line interpretations focusing on difficult words and constructions or unusual references. Occasionally provided by the exegete, but often left to the reader, has been the actual reading of the poem - the making of sense and beauty from its sounds, words, and structures, the perception that it is a unified entity with a distinctive message.'

The apocryphal books of the Maccabees are addressed by Robert Doran of Amherst College. Carol Newsom of Candler School of Theology at Emory provides commentary on the book of Job. J. Clinton McCann Jr. of Eden Theological Seminary looks at the book of Psalms. In looking at the Psalms, McCann states: 'The book of Psalms presents nothing short of God's claim upon the whole world and it articulates God's will for justice, righteousness and peace among all peoples and all nations. It is the purpose of this commentary to elucidate that claim and to enable the reader to hear the Word of God as it comes to us in the psalms.'

High praise goes to the general editorial staff for working with such strong authors/scholars, that their work fits together well as part of this set while retaining their individual characteristics (much like the writers of the Bible itself!).

--Other volumes available--

The following is a list of each volume in this twelve-volume set, and the contents of each.

Volume I: General Articles on the Bible; General Articles on the Old Testament; Genesis; Exodus; Leviticus

Volume II: Numbers; Deuteronomy; Introduction to Narrative Literature; Joshua; Judges; Ruth; I & II Samuel

Volume III: I & II Kings; I & II Chronicles; Ezra, Nehemiah; Esther; Additions to Esther; Tobit; Judith

Volume IV: I & II Maccabees; Introduction to Hebrew Poetry; Job; Psalms

Volume V: Introduction to Wisdom Literature; Proverbs; Ecclesiastes; Song of Songs; Book of Wisdom; Sirach

Volume VI: Introduction to Prophetic Literature; Isaiah; Jeremiah; Baruch; Letter of Jeremiah; Lamentations; Ezekiel

Volume VII: Introduction to Apocalyptic Literature; Daniel; Additions to Daniel; Hosea; Joel; Amos; Obadiah; Johan; Micah; Nahum; Habakkuk; Zephaniah; Haggai; Zechariah; Malachi

Volume VIII: General Articles on the New Testament; Matthew; Mark

Volume IX: Luke; John

Volume X: Acts; Introduction to Epistolary Literature; Romans, I Corinthians

Volume XI: II Corinthians; Galatians; Ephesians; Philippians; Colossians; I & II Thessalonians; I & II Timothy; Titus; Philemon

Volume XII: Hebrews; James; I & II Peter; I, II & III John; Jude; Revelation

Most people understand that the study of Scripture is an enormous task; and that there is a considerable theological heritage to even the most benign of passages. Unfortunately, it is sometimes difficult to translate that understanding into a willingness to genuinely delve into the vast pool of material out there. In addition, it's hard to know who to trust.

You can trust the New Interpreter's Bible series. All of the scholars who contributed are the best in their field. In addition, the layout (which includes two complete translations - the NIV and the NRSV) is conducive to both scholarly and spiritual study of the texts.

Each text is broken down into discret units (i.e. the Tower of Babel) followed by general commentary on the passage, verse by vers analysis of key issues, and then an overview of study questions. The commentators address issues of authorship, historical setting, translation, theological history, and personal application. In addition, they graciously point to excellent sources for further reading.

Speaking as a pastor, it is my strong opinion that every English-speaking Christian who is serious about Bible study should own the complete set.

My Bible study group is studying The Psalms this year. This book is wonderful. It gives two interpretations of each Psalm, NIV and NRSV. This makes it much more interesting, since you are given two versions of the poetry. The line-by-line commentaries are suitable for in-depth analysis, and the reflections are truly inspiring. I've been very impressed by this book, and I plan to read the other volumes as well.

The New Interpreter's Bible is a twelve-volume series, updating the popular Interpreter's Bible from a few decades ago. There are several key features common to all of the volumes of this series. First, each includes a two-column, double translation of the Biblical text (NIV - New International Version, and NRSV - New Revised Standard Version) arranged by topical unit or story. Then, they provide commentaries that look at the passages as a whole, as well as verse-by-verse. Third, interesting Reflection pieces that relate the passages to each other, to history, and to current concerns occur at the conclusion of each passage. Fourth, introductory articles for each book are provided that discuss transmission, historical background, cultural setting, literary concerns, and current scholarship. Finally, there are general articles about the Bible, each Testament, and various types of literature (Narrative, Gospel, Wisdom Literature, etc.) are provided to give general placement and knowledge about the text overall.

The list of contributors, editors, and consultants on the project is a veritable Who's Who of biblical and theological scholarship, representing all major traditions and schools of thought liberal and conservative. Leander Keck, of the Yale Divinity School, is the primary editor of the series.

The volumes were published individually, and can be purchased individually, which is a good thing, given that they are a bit expensive. But for any serious biblical scholar, preacher, student, or enthusiast, they are invaluable.

--Volume II--

The second volume of the New Interpreter's Bible completes the Torah with Numbers and Deuteronomy, and begins a look at the 'histories', more precisely termed in the NIB as Narrative Literature, with the books of Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I and II Samuel.

The book of Numbers is addressed by Thomas Dozeman of United Theological Seminary, Dayton. Ronald Clements of King's College, London, looks at the book of Deuteronomy, a book upon which he has published another commentary. Robert Coote of San Francisco Theological Seminary, takes Joshua. Dennis Olson of Princeton Theological Seminary looks at the book of Judges. Kathleen Robertson Farmer, also at United Theological in Dayton, addresses the book of Ruth. Bruce Birch, Dean of Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC, completes the volume with the two books of Samuel.

Perhaps of special note here is the book of Ruth (why is it that the task of this book is given to a woman, and all other book of this volume to men?). In her commentary, Kathleen Roberton Farmer wrote, 'Reading history through the lens of Ruth is more like looking through a kaleidoscope than a microscope. While the dominant themes of redemption and insider/outsider dynamics remain constant within the story, every rotation of the proposed background against which the story is read causes these themes to fall into a different pattern.' Something similar could be said by many of the commentators about the way the texts are addressed here.

Peter Miscall of the Illiff School of Theology provides a general article discussing Narrative Literature, looking at the relationship of narrative and history, narrative and author/storyteller, and the importance of components such as character, plot, theme and style. Miscall also examines some of the shifting emphases over the past generation of biblical scholarship generally, exploring in a little detail newer theories and methods of literary analysis.

High praise goes to the general editorial staff for working with such strong authors/scholars, that their work fits together well as part of this set while retaining their individual characteristics (much like the writers of the Bible itself!).

--Other volumes available--

The following is a list of each volume in this twelve-volume set, and the contents of each.

Volume I: General Articles on the Bible; General Articles on the Old Testament; Genesis; Exodus; Leviticus

Volume II: Numbers; Deuteronomy; Introduction to Narrative Literature; Joshua; Judges; Ruth; I & II Samuel

Volume III: I & II Kings; I & II Chronicles; Ezra, Nehemiah; Esther; Additions to Esther; Tobit; Judith

Volume IV: I & II Maccabees; Introduction to Hebrew Poetry; Job; Psalms

Volume V: Introduction to Wisdom Literature; Proverbs; Ecclesiastes; Song of Songs; Book of Wisdom; Sirach

Volume VI: Introduction to Prophetic Literature; Isaiah; Jeremiah; Baruch; Letter of Jeremiah; Lamentations; Ezekiel

Volume VII: Introduction to Apocalyptic Literature; Daniel; Additions to Daniel; Hosea; Joel; Amos; Obadiah; Johan; Micah; Nahum; Habakkuk; Zephaniah; Haggai; Zechariah; Malachi

Volume VIII: General Articles on the New Testament; Matthew; Mark

Volume IX: Luke; John

Volume X: Acts; Introduction to Epistolary Literature; Romans, I Corinthians

Volume XI: II Corinthians; Galatians; Ephesians; Philippians; Colossians; I & II Thessalonians; I & II Timothy; Titus; Philemon

Volume XII: Hebrews; James; I & II Peter; I, II & III John; Jude; Revelation

Most people understand that the study of Scripture is an enormous task; and that there is a considerable theological heritage to even the most benign of passages. Unfortunately, it is sometimes difficult to translate that understanding into a willingness to genuinely delve into the vast pool of material out there. In addition, it's hard to know who to trust.

You can trust the New Interpreter's Bible series. All of the scholars who contributed are the best in their field. In addition, the layout (which includes two complete translations - the NIV and the NRSV) is conducive to both scholarly and spiritual study of the texts.

Each text is broken down into discret units (i.e. the Tower of Babel) followed by general commentary on the passage, verse by vers analysis of key issues, and then an overview of study questions. The commentators address issues of authorship, historical setting, translation, theological history, and personal application. In addition, they graciously point to excellent sources for further reading.

Speaking as a pastor, it is my strong opinion that every English-speaking Christian who is serious about Bible study should own the complete set.

I am writing a paper concerning Flood stories throughout the early Hebrew and Sumerian regions. This one book had all the information I needed! The other volumes are equally expansive and illuminating. You get not only commentary but thoughful reflection as well. After reading any of these volumes you will walk away with a much better feel for the Biblical material.

The old Dective's Daughter is a delight to read! It is a well done mystery that captures the attention and keeps you reading. But it is more than a mystery, it is a heart filled story beautifully weaves the past and present together, touching upon issues relevent to many of our lives.

The characters and places are very vivid in this book. The story strikes a balance between standard detective story and the nature of family relationships. A.V. Spencer's description of the title character's encounter with the health care industry is particularly chilling.

To steal a line from Studs Terkel, I couldn't put the damned thing down. The Old Detective's Daughter is that kind of book. Spencer has written a good work of fiction that held me in its grasp until the last page. While the book is only 99 pages, it is a multi-textured story about forgiveness and chance. Set in Chicago and Youngstown, Ohio, the main character T.J. Montegomery, a woman detective, is hired to help an older man at the end of his life find his estranged daughter. In the process of working on the case for the old man, her own father is dying of cancer. While she has to accept that her father is about to die, she can't quite make peace with the bad state of medical care he receives. The story winds up being less of a mystery and more about the relationship between father and daughter. The parallel plots of father and daughter draw you in as they move to wrap themselves up at the end. I like particularly liked TJ's close friend Karen. Spencer creates an intriquing character in Karen who helps TJ see her plight from a different perspective. This is a good little story that has me looking for more from this writer.

This is one that you do not want it end....wonderful characters and storyline....I highly recommend this book..I hope there is a continuation of this one.....

Bob Inman's novel Old Dogs and Children is a wonderful story and trip to another place. Mr. Inman in his traditionally breath- taking writing style, has the ability to show people not as bad or good, but as real- full of faults, dreams, and regrets. I loved every character and after closing the book still wonder how they are doing This is the mark of a truly great writer, this is the mark of Bob Inman. As the editor and creator of the online family magazine Families-First I look for excellent books like Mr. Inman's to offer to my online community. His writing is simply a joy to read. I always learn something when reading his stories, and feel richer in the afterglow of his novels.

I found Inman's book to be a bittersweet look at growing older and how it is never too late to change. Bright Birdsong touched me deeply with her fears and sometimes her lack of courage made me seethe with anger. However this is a novel of redemption and in the end just like Gladys the dog, Bright Birdsong also comes out from under the porch and into the light.

read one of the short pieces in this anthology. They are also incredibly uplifting too. A brilliant bedside companion for any dog lover.

Although each of the pieces in this book was inspired by the loss of a much beloved dog, this is really a book about vibrant, fully-alive dogs: family pets, fellow hunters, soul mates, and best friends. And while none of the dogs remembered so fondly here still lives, Old Dogs affirms the remarkably special place in the heart we reserve for our dogs. My own dog is sturdy in her middle-age, but reading the eulogies and odes in this moving anthology has made me appreciate more all the quirky habits I take for granted, like how she can't resist running off with one of my Reeboks when I'm shoeing up for our evening walk--the little prance she performs when I tell her, "Bring the shoe back!" Not a sad read but a celebratory one, required for every dog owner!

This is a remarkable anthology of stories and poems by outstanding authors of the past, as well as more recent times. Although these moving remembrances are only of beloved dogs, the lovers of any species of pet will find identical sentiments for their own losses. Whatever kind of companion animal you had, you will find your own bereavement and healing tears reflected here, as well.

Care was taken to avoid over-sentimentality, in this assortment of loving reflections of dogs, celebrated here. These accounts are full of love, and are sometimes even funny - and we are thrust into the realization that perhaps that is the most wonderful kind of living memorials we can have for a beloved pet. Too often, we lose this perspective, while trying to keep from drowning in our own bereavement and sorrows.

Rather than being a collection of sad literary memorials Old Dogs Remembered is a joyful celebration of life with pets. This inspires healthy new points of view and adjustments to moving on into our new lives, without them.

Here we are treated to many different outlooks on how they permanently enriched the lives of their owners. Reading these heartwarming pages will broaden the understanding of each reader, concerning his/her own personal bereavement. Here, we are offered the collective wisdom of others, who reminisce on their honored pets. There is much to be shared and learned here, as well as enjoyed.

With so many different authors, one must appreciate that references and styles have changed drastically, through the ages. As an example of this, some might find the essay by the dramatist John Galsworthy to be interesting, but a bit troublesome to read. And, as with any anthology, there may be some accounts not everyone would appreciate. But all pet lovers will readily identify with the overall shared remembrances, here. This is a heartwarming collection, which can be enjoyed comfortably, in several installments.

There will be many an uplifting tear shed in its reading, and we suggest it for your reading pleasure.

Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of "Old Fashioned Country Cookies." You are GUARANTEED to love the recipes and cute illustrations. (I recommend the Orange Iced Cranberry Cookies...Yum!) As usual, the Country Friends Vickie & JoAnn put together an excellent country cookbook chock full of Country Memories and excellent recipes for... What else.. Cookies! You can't go wrong with Gooseberry Patch. These books are pure fun and are sure to delight everyone!!!

I own several Gooseberry craft/cookbooks, and do the majority of my cooking from them. I have NEVER been disappointed with any recipe I have made. They are simply the best!

This is one of the most "usable" cookie cookbooks I've seen. I collect cookbooks and have a good basis for comparison. Like all the other Gooseberry Cookbooks, the style of composition makes it a fun book to use. I first bought a copy of this book several years ago and didn't really open it up and look at it. When headed to visit our daughter several states away, I was looking for something I could take to her as a gift and saw "Old Fashioned Country Cookies" on the shelf so grabbed it up and gave it to her. Sitting around her kitchen table, I finally had the time to REALLY look at its pages. I'm flipping pages and thinking..."Good grief, WHY did I give this book away...these recipes look fabulous!!" I asked her for some paper and a pen and started jotting down recipes I thought I wanted to try. That proved to be a finger-cramping adventure. I knew I just HAD to purchase another copy. Couldn't let all those gems get away. I did just that and haven't been sorry. It's wonderful to have so many good recipes in one book. It's the first one I reach for when the urge to make cookies pops into my head. I also love the country-style graphics and the hints sent in by Gooseberry readers. If I were trapped on a desert island and could only have one publishers cookbooks, I'd opt for the ones by Gooseberry Patch...they are GREAT! If you order this book, you won't be sorry. And my daughter LOVED it as a gift too!

I grew up in Hollis, Queens during the '50s & and '60s and thought that I saw a lot of changes in the neighborhood. But this book is a real eye-opener showing how the area changed from farmlands in the 19th century (including developer's ads) to a fully built up residential community by the 1940's. The book is a must read for anyone who has lived in Queens

For this former resident (Corona and Laurelton), Old Queens presented an engrossing, illuminating, and refreshing visual window on the area of New York that has received too little historical attention. Arranged by community, the book provides concise, individual historical narratives to go with a set of photographs of people and places and old maps that can only be called amazing. Indeed, the treasures of this book, for my taste, are the many photos from the era before the construction of the subway lines that transformed rural Queens into megalopolis. Many of the area photos (structures from the 1939 World's Fair, for example) will no doubt be familiar to many. What surprises, however, are photos such as the two page spread of an untamed, deserted pre-World's Fair Flushing Meadow, a lush meadow creased by the winding Flushing River, itself crossed by the vanished Strong's Causeway that carried Corona Avenue traffic across the soggy marsh to Lawrence Street in Flushing. Equally compelling are photos of the muddy looking thoroughly rural roads of Queens Boulevard and Merrick Road (in Springfield) from the early 20th century complete with isolated farm buildings. Perhaps the most symbolic photo, however, is the panoramic photo showing a spanking new IRT Flushing Line elevated tracks slanting across a nearly-vacant 1915 Sunnyside landscape that looks more like Ohio than New York City. This book helps the reader see Queens as it existed before the housing explosion. It also makes one wonder what might have been. In effect, Old Queens shows what was lost to all-too-rapid, unplanned suburbanization left entirely in the greedy hands of the marketplace. Lack of urban planning and nonexistent historic preservation is the unspoken theme that resonates often in this book. Who wouldn't want to live in one of those handsome, tree-shaded, Victorian homes on the shady, Lefferts Boulevard in Richmond Hill, Jamaica, or Elmhurst? The question is academic, since none of these homes survived the Queens building boom of the early 20th century. Suppose Robert Moses had actually carried through plans to turn the Corona Dump/Flushing Meadow into an honest-to-goodness park with kinds of recreational facilities he lavished on his Long Island state parks? Suppose the city fathers (and local politicians) had taken a more custodial role and protected Jamaica Bay and it surrounding marshlands from pollution for descendants of the gentlemen angler shown pulling his crabpot out of a quiet channel in Meadowmere? While this reader would have liked to view a few photos from vanished communities, such as Ramblersville (Ozone Park), Black Stump (Fresh Meadows), or White Pot (Forest Hills), he believes that Seyfried and Asadorian have assembled a fascinating book that appears destined for the coffee table hall of fame, that is, if rabid readers don't tear it to shreds, first.

Queens usually takes third place to Manhattan and Brooklyn on NYC bookshelfs but this terrific photo collection will go a long way to remedy that. There's an enlightening introduction about the borough and wonderful photos/captions for 27 neighborhoods. My personal favorite is on pp.122-123, a jaw-dropping 1906 view of the strange junction of Jamaica Ave., Myrtle Ave. and Lefferts Blvd. in Richmond Hill. Today, this unique street pattern remains but, alas, the Triangle Hotel, later the Triangle Hofbrau, where the likes of Babe Ruth and Mae West imbibed, recently closed down. I've shown this book to a couple of former Queens people and they were amazed. Don't miss it if you're from Queens or have even a passing interest in urban history. Hopefully, the publisher is correcting a page-order problem in the beginning of the edition I purchased at a museum last summer, but don't let that hold you back. This is a real gem.

I almost think this book is misnamed. Covering Genesis through Revelation, it serves more as an overview of the books of the Bible in its order, including providing background, author, theme, and other information that you would expect in a study Bible or commentary. This is fine. The charts are available throughout, but they are quite simplistic and are not really in any order. Of course, you can look in the index for help, but unless you know what you are looking for, a particular chart or map might be hard to find. For instance, they have a small chart on Christ's superiority at the end of the section on Hebrews. Unless you knew that was there, how would you ever find it? Although this book is fine, if you are searching for clearer and more detailed charts and maps, let me recommend the Holman Book of Charts and Maps. I think this would be a better buy, if I had to choose between the two.

Do you have only a limited amount of time for Bible study like I do? Due to this, I need a few good reference works that can really jump-start my Bible study - ones that I can rely on every time I want to really dig into a book of the Bible. Nelson's Complete Book of Bible Maps & Charts is just that sort of book! It is now my FIRST STOP reference book for Bible study. Why? The balance of charts, outlines, and articles give me excellent big pictures of the Bible that I can actually REMEMBER.

This work's greatest strengths are the summary charts for every book of the Bible. Unlike most, these analyze each book in A NUMBER of complementary ways, not just one. You see themes that overlap and weave together! The outlines and many, many topical charts give even more depth to each book and help tie books and themes together. The articles also include a lot of very useful background material. Overall, this reference is laid out in a very user-friendly fashion.

I use this book for both personal study and teaching preparation. It is literally a must-own for anyone serious about understanding the Bible better; I cannot say enough good things about this work!

I've had some opportunities to look at this book and it is very helpful to get a general overview about the Bible. There are good pictures and charts that are very helpful. I know that there are many other types of books that are similar, but I would rate this one above the others

Old Henry is a great childrens book that also has a moral. The moral of the story is that you should not judge a person for how they look, dress, or live but how they are as a person. The neighbor's of Henry in the story do just this and drive Henry to move away. The neighbors end up missing him and feel guilty about how they treated him. A child can learn a lot from the book.

It may not last forever, but this book has momentarily knocked Sherwood Anderson's "Winesburg, Ohio" into second place. "Old Henry" is now my favorite all time book, even after having owned it for about seven years. Oh, I used to read it all the time to the kids, but the moment I realized this book is now, for the time being, my all-time favorite book, is when I sat in the emergency room late one recent Saturday night.

My wife was in another room, discovering she had a broken foot from a slip earlier that day on a basement floor made wet by water leaking in through the walls.

I spend far too much time doing home maintenance these days, mopping up wet basement floors, calculating how the house will be sided or painted, deciding whether topaint or replace a garage door, trimming hedges and yanking weeds.

All of these ridiculous, no-win chores simply chip away at the time I want for reading, writing and drawing. It is not enough that parenthood justly requires so much time and energy -- we signed on for that -- but the treadmill that is home maintenance is a horror for anyone who likes to sit by the bird feeder and read magazines.

I envy, then, Old Henry, who wants only to move in, leave things be, and read and draw while his neighbors are concerned about the length of his grass.

My uncle once explained to me why he barely ever trims his bushes. "I want them to express themselves," he said, comparing his free-flowing shrubs to the neighbors' which were stiff and buzzcut as military sentries.

So I used to read "Old Henry" for my kids. Now it is at my bedside, along with the magazines and feng shui books, all reminders that if I want to nurture my mind, I'll have to give up the landscaping and such, and while the water in the basement must be mopped up lest anyone else break a bone, that we actually do have the freedom to surrendur to nature, let it grow and grow around us, and in that sweet surrendur, curl up defeatedly with a book.

I thought that this book was really good. I think that it will help kids understand how you should never judge people because that is what they did in the book. The neighbors judge Henry because he moved into a house and he did not fix it up so his neighbors cleaned his yard for him and was running him out. The neighbors did what they wanted but when he left the neighbors started to miss him. It shows that with him gone there was something special the people liked about him.