Socks, aftershave, chocolate coins, a matching set of his and her watches……… Not really very appealing but what was your favourite present? Or put another way which one are you likely to keep and not either take back or put on e-bay? My winner is the latest book about Morrissey and The Smiths by Simon Goddard. Following on from his wonderful Songs that saved your life. Published by Reynolds and Hearn Books 2002, Revised and Expanded 2004. (www.rhbooks.com) He has moved on from telling us all about the songs to telling us all about everything. For real lovers of The Smiths and Morrissey. If you are not, don’t bother buying the book. Get The Queen is Dead instead. Listen to it over and over, become a real lover and then get the book! The books’ title tells you everything you need to know about the book. The book itself tells you everything you need to know and a lot of things you really don’t need to know about the great man and the band that made him famous. You can find out who Twinkle was, about Moz’s love of the Cockney Rejects and who or what was The Hatedsalfordensemble. (I already knew that one as it is my e-bay name!!!!!) I have started reading through it but it is probably meant more as a reference library than to actually go through page by page. At £25 it is a bit expensive but good value if you are a fanatic like myself. It is published by Ebury Press and you can get it from www.rbooks.co.uk. What was your favourite Christmas present? Let us know. A t-shirt for the best answer. Happy New Year.

By peter on December 31, 2009