In what I'd love to become a short-lived, but well-read bookish, holiday-themed series, I'm posting the bestest of the literary/book bloggers' best of-holiday posts.

And who better to start it all off than the lovely Ms. Maud Newton, who is currently inviting readers to not only partake of her own heart-wrenchingly funny holiday memories, but share their own.

Maud offers up her personal worst (at least to date), wonderfully entertaining – but also sad – but more entertaining--holiday story,  and asks readers to submit their own misfortunate  holiday recollections:

If you have your own terrible holiday story, write it up in 500 words or fewer and email to me at maud [at] maudnewton [dot] com by noon EST on Saturday, the 13th.

I’ll choose my favorite, post it here, and send the winner three things worth having: a copy of Alan Bennett’s marvelous The Uncommon Reader, the Oxford American’s Tenth Anniversary Southern Music issue (for the uninitiated, Dwight Garner calls the CDs “so smart and eclectic they probably belong in the Smithsonian”), and the latest issue of Wholphin,

So, how's that for a literary way to get into the holiday spirit? Gifting that's a win/win for all of us readers. 

Know of any other literary, or book-minded bloggers who are talking about the holidays? Please do pass them along to me -- I'd be more than happy to post loving links to them.

Happiest of all possible happy holidays to ya!

~ Kat