One of life’s universal truths is that everyone has lived through their own personal holiday disaster. Whether due to unexpected circumstances, already existing family tensions, or a simple oversight blown out of all proportion, we can all recall at least one festive situation that is best forgotten. Alex Bernstein uses this premise as a starting point for “Miserable Holiday Stories.” The book presents an involving collection of experiences where confusion, despair, and desperation threaten to overwhelm those involved. But rather than simply explore holiday incidents gone awry, Bernstein makes it a point to include important life lessons in each of his tales. Those caught up in the circumstances depicted—situations almost always of their own making—are given the opportunity to discover answers that were right in front of them the whole time. Such is the case in “Blue Christmas,” where Rob, the treasurer of the local Jewish Community Center, obsesses over …