Everyone Is Beautiful

By Katherine Center

Lanie Coate and her husband Peter have just moved from Houston to Cambridge, Massachusetts with their three little boys. For Lanie it is a real change since she is leaving behind a home and family and friends that she has had all her life. But it is Peter's big chance to make it as a composer and she is willing to give it all up for him.
Their youngest child is under a year old and still nursing and Lanie hasn't managed to lose the baby weight yet, as is brought home to her very rudely when a stranger at the park asks her when her baby is due. So Lanie signs up for a gym and starts going to it to workout almost every night, even though it means Peter has to take precious time from his composing to look after the kids.
Surprisingly, Lanie chances to meet an acquaintance, Amanda, from high school who also has a young daughter and they strike up a friendship. Amanda is married to a very successful man and, compared to what the struggling Lanie & Peter have, is living the good life. She has a beautiful home, nice clothes, a quiet, well-behaved daughter, a rich husband. Plus Amanda is a beautiful woman, slim and always well-dressed and well-groomed. The opposite of Lanie, who is struggling with her weight, has three active little boys, and whose husband is just starting out in his profession and so money is very tight.
Still Lanie is trying to make the best of things and gets involved with a photography class when her mom sends her her old cameras. Lanie, who used to be quite a good painter, is now turning her artist's eye to photographs and it turns out she has a real knack for it. But problems arise when her teacher puts the move on her right in front of Peter resulting in a fist-fight and Peter maybe leaving home for good.

This was an OK story. Throughout the story, Lanie is pretty hard on herself, describing a life out of control with bratty kids, messy house, burned dinners and other such chaos. But in reality she manages pretty well, creating time to exercise, build friendships, take classes, and pursue her interest in photography. She is painted as a kind of sad sack but it turns out she really isn't one. Anymore than anyone is who is trying to raise three active little ones. So, even though she is struggling, she is only struggling with the things that everyone has to. It doesn't exactly make for the most compelling reading.