Something Dead in Everything

by Lannie Stabile

A collection of flash fiction that explores the intricacies, intimacies, and strangeness of grief, in whatever form it may take; in it the reader is weaved into the fabric of everything and nothing at once—unsettling, dark truths meet the numbness we will all come to understand one day.

*Cover art by Todd Dillard

100 pages, Paperback

Published June 1, 2022

About the author

Lannie Stabile (she/her), a queer Detroiter, is the winner of OutWrite’s 2020 Chapbook Competition in Poetry and a back-to-back semifinalist for the Button Poetry Chapbook Contest. Lannie was also named a 2020 Best of the Net finalist. Her debut poetry full-length, Good Morning to Everyone Except Men Who Name Their Dogs Zeus, was published in 2021 by Cephalopress. Her fiction debut, Something Dead in Everything, is out now with ELJ Editions. Find her on Twitter @LannieStabile or @NotALitMag, where she throws random writing contests and open mics.

Reviews

[John D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know Lannie Stabile as a poet. I never suspected that she also wrote fiction. But why not, right? Many of us do.

This potent little book places Death & Grief in a new light. The first story "To Wash & Dry a Vessel"
made me clutch my chest. I mean, who would ever drink their Mama. Oops....not meaning to spoil it for you. (I promise not to do it again.)

Some of the stories are less than a page but have something thought-provoking to say, something about death & dying, having died, grief, having grieved. And then there's my new favorite, "Muck or Nettles," with poor Cordy who's just inherited a bakery. All I can say about this one is someone has sort of an axe to grind.

Stabile writes with a certain economy, telling just the right amount of "back matter" to justify the telling of the story. One does not have to read these 19 vignettes in order. Skip around. Have some fun.

I hope Lannie Stabile pens a sequel, maybe with another unique twist.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead funny. Darn delightful. I paced myself with these stories and used them at night to slow down and turn off my monkey brain. Each story has something—a character, a twist, a line I wish I wrote—that gave my brain something way more fun than the day’s worries to ponder before bed.

[D.H. Schleicher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A whole collection of short-shorts and flash fiction about death...sounds fun, right?

The darkly humorous tone combined with poignant glimpses of humanity highlight the best pieces of this collection from Lannie Stabile.

As with all flash, some doesn't quite work or is just too...quick (I know, I know, they're supposed to be...flashes...)

But when flash fiction works, man, does it knock you over. And there are some pieces in here that really work.

My favorites were:
To Wash and Dry a Vessel
Like Butter (brutal and haunting)
Muriel vs. the Hunger (cleverly told from the POV of a harried hamster who just gave birth to 24 pups)
Muck or Nettles
Mark Forgot the Baby Formula
Trashed
Toes in the Sand

Overall, at 75 pages, this is a quick, but deeply probing read into grief punctuated by healthy doses of gallows humor and plenty of dark twists. I definitely recommend this if that sounds like your type of thing.

[Bavya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑 (4/5)

TW: Domestic abuse, sexual assault, infanticide, SIDS, postpartum depression, death, murder, suicide, dismemberment, profanity

Lannie Stabile’s Something Dead in Everything is a collection of short stories with Death as the central theme. This book consists of 19 stories that are all unique, strange and heartbreaking at the same time.

The author has expertly captured the tumultuous feelings, weirdness, and challenges of dealing with death. I absolutely loved reading this. To Wash and Dry a Vessel, R.IP Jeanette, Into Focus, Mark Forgot the Baby Formula are some of my favourites.

I really liked the author's writing style. It's crisp and full of analogies and satirical hints; it took me a while to grasp the concept, but I was soon drawn in.

Every story is unique and written in a way that leaves you thinking for a while. 'Into Focus,' for example, makes you wonder how a seemingly insignificant decision can lead to a catastrophic outcome. Likewise, 'To Wash and Dry a Vessel' poses a difficult question about priorities: how important is self-care? Should it take precedence over parental responsibilities?

And in some cases, it's a cliffhanger letting the readers craft their own endings. The stories cover a wide spectrum of emotions culminating in heartbreaking endings.

Even though I really enjoyed reading, certain stories were challenging to interpret. I'm not sure if I got it right. I appreciate that the author provided a section titled "Discussion Questions" near the conclusion because it made it easier to comprehend her viewpoint.

This is not a book I would normally choose, but I'm glad I had the opportunity to review it. Thanks to Lannie for the e-ARC.

Overall, Something Dead in Everything by Lannie Stabile is an excellent read that is both engaging and leaves you in awe.

[Luke Wortley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stabile's collection is fraught and compelling, as varied as it is interlocked. While all these stories center on the nature of grieving, loss, and disappearance, there's a startling amount of heart in each of these tales that leaves the reader mesmerized and wondering what the next one could possibly add, and yet, each one moves with a vigor oscillating between rage and reflection. I absolutely tore through this collection and am eagerly awaiting the follow-up.

[Will Schmit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t had this much fun reading a book since, well since the one detective story based in New Orleans, by a different author. This is the perfect gift for any bookclub that would never ask you to join. I’m putting my copy in a time capsule for my grandchildren to read if the world doesn’t end first. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant !

[Tiffany Meuret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly touching collection that opens with a punch