A Celebration of Friendship with Lots of Laughs Along the Way

Several years ago, we went to my aunt’s house to visit and happened upon a book on her coffee table. It was a slim volume – certainly not the typical coffee table book with the potential of inflicting a life-altering injury on someone standing under it in a bookstore – and my brother and I read through it quickly. Then, when we had finished it, we read it again. Somehow, my aunt has a way of always introducing us to completely unfamiliar books that will, in a matter of months, become a sensation. Such was the case with Bradley Trevor Greive’s The Blue Day Book. After I purchased the first book, I found that I had to collect each subsequent volume as near to the release date as possible. And at $10 a pop, I don’t have to feel too guilty about it.

Greive’s latest endeavor, Friends to the End, jumped out at me at the conclusion of a long day at work. We were putting away the last bit of stock and there it was. I knew I would have to buy it the first chance I got. And so I did. Greive has dedicated two books already to the subject of honoring mothers – which is nice but a bit unfair, since he hasn’t done a book about dads yet – and this one honors another very important relationship in one’s life. Greive pays homage to all the friends who make life so much better, starting with his heartwarming dedication. The always-brilliant pictures, culled from a large number of talented photographers, are among the most endearing yet. Because the book discusses different types of people coming together and becoming unlikely allies, its pages are filled with odd pairings of animals. Among them:

…which is strange, considering how close we’ve become. (3) – a large frog giving an equally large leopard-print frog a hug

What makes friendship, especially a friendship like ours, so special? (7) – a baby fox and rabbit snuggled up together in a basket

There is a curious fact about friendship that we have always known but rarely acknowledge: By understanding others, we also come closer to understanding ourselves. (15) – a lamb, chicken and piglet looking out over a fence together

Genuine friendships are founded on a shared vision – the view that our lives are somehow better because particular people are a part of them. (25) – a dog and lion cuddled up together in the grass

Despite numerous differences, real friends see eye to eye on all the issues that matter. Our common values, passions, concerns, and mutual respect enhance our life experiences as a whole. (26) – a mouse sitting at eye level on a elephant’s trunk

Most important, friends know when to just sit quietly beside us and say nothing at all. (38) – a chimpanzee lying beside a very depressed-looking dog

We go on adventures (40) – a donkey with a suitcase in its mouth carrying a Chihuahua on its back

With a real friend, we know exactly what they are thinking without having to say a word. (101) – a duckling and puppy rubbing noses with each other

The book chronicles all the different aspects of friendship, from shared passions to cozy comforts, taking time to note the difference between real friends and those who may seek companionship for less that noble purposes. In Greive’s trademark witty style, he urges readers to treasure those who stand by them, even if they sometimes can be irritating. The rewards of a deep friendship are far greater than the inconvenience of putting up with annoying personality quirks. Like all of Greive’s books, this is a volume to treasure and an ideal gift to give to the kind of friend described within its pages.