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The Naked Truth: Young, Beautiful, and (HIV) Positive – An Everyday Teen's Inspirational Fight for Life and Hope
The surprisingly hopeful story of how a straight, nonpromiscuous, everyday girl contracted HIV and how she manages to stay upbeat, inspired, and more positive about life than ever before
At nineteen years of age, Marvelyn Brown was lying in a stark white hospital bed at Tennessee Christian Medical Center, feeling hopeless. A former top track and basketball athlete, she was in the best shape of her life, but she was battling a sudden illness in the intensive care unit. Doctors had no idea what was going on. It never occurred to Brown that she might be HIV positive.
Having unprotected sex with her Prince Charming had set into swift motion a set of circumstances that not only landed her in the fight of her life, but also alienated her from her community. Rather than give up, however, Brown found a reason to fight and a reason to live.
The Naked Truth is an inspirational memoir that shares how an everyday teen refused to give up on herself, even as others would forsake her. More, it's a cautionary tale that every parent, guidance counselor, and young adult should read.
At nineteen years of age, Marvelyn Brown was lying in a stark white hospital bed at Tennessee Christian Medical Center, feeling hopeless. A former top track and basketball athlete, she was in the best shape of her life, but she was battling a sudden illness in the intensive care unit. Doctors had no idea what was going on. It never occurred to Brown that she might be HIV positive.
Having unprotected sex with her Prince Charming had set into swift motion a set of circumstances that not only landed her in the fight of her life, but also alienated her from her community. Rather than give up, however, Brown found a reason to fight and a reason to live.
The Naked Truth is an inspirational memoir that shares how an everyday teen refused to give up on herself, even as others would forsake her. More, it's a cautionary tale that every parent, guidance counselor, and young adult should read.
233 pages, Paperback
First published August 19, 2008
44 people are currently reading
1237 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
September 11, 2008
This memoir is written by a 24-year-old woman who is HIV positive. I was SHOCKED to learn that in 2003 in the United States, when the author was 19 years old and discovered she was HIV positive, she was unaware that HIV was a sexually transmitted disease. How on earth does that happen? I was just so shocked by that. I'm determined to make sure my nieces, nephews and cousins know what's what.
The rest of Marvelyn Brown's story quite interesting as well and serves as a testament to the power of faith/belief/dedication. To go from the utter ignorance and selfishness that she started with to become a national spokesperson for HIV awareness is inspiring.
There are some parts of the book that make me think Brown still has some serious growing to do and she should. She's only 24. It's not the greatest writing in the world, but the story is certainly worth telling. Plus, the appendix in the book is a treasure trove of resources, information and statistics about HIV/AIDS.
The rest of Marvelyn Brown's story quite interesting as well and serves as a testament to the power of faith/belief/dedication. To go from the utter ignorance and selfishness that she started with to become a national spokesperson for HIV awareness is inspiring.
There are some parts of the book that make me think Brown still has some serious growing to do and she should. She's only 24. It's not the greatest writing in the world, but the story is certainly worth telling. Plus, the appendix in the book is a treasure trove of resources, information and statistics about HIV/AIDS.
October 16, 2008
Although I am not quite done with this book, I really like it. Although I know no one with this, I feel empathy for what this woman has to go through on a daily basis. To be honest, every young wannabe man, wannabe woman, boy, , anyone who can read and reading urban lit, NEED to read this book. No ifs, no ands, no buts.
April 22, 2015
Title: The Naked Truth: Young, Beautiful, and (HIV) Positive
Author: Marvelyn Brown
Genre: Nonfiction, memoir
Setting: Most of the book is set in Tennessee, but parts in other places, from New York City, to Jamaica, to Hollywood, to South Africa. Although it's clear that Marvelyn is working hard to survive and educate others and her life as an HIV activist does not seem to me at all glamorous.
Reason for Reading: Last fall my sweetheart and I found a few boxes of free books on the side of the street. We both have a weakness for free books! He picked up the book at that time. Once I began this project he recommended this book to me as he had found it to be eye-opening.
Relevance to the Project: Book #18 for my 5o book challenge! I've really been enjoying reading memoirs for this project - I've been finding those are some of the books I've been getting the most out of. As a former safer sex educator Marvelyn's story did not surprise me. It's all too common. But she tells it well.
Finished In: Two days. It was easy to read, hard to put down.
Pages: 233
Copyright Date: 2008. In some ways it is amazing to me that this is still such an issue now, when HIV safety was already being discussed (albeit often poorly) in high schools in the 90's.
Cover: A tasteful nude black and white picture of Marvelyn.
First line: "What is wrong with this child?"
Favorite quote: "A person's sexual preference doesn't make a lick of difference (though I wish some of the men who do have homosexual or bisexual feelings could find their own self-love and stop pretending to be someone they're not). What matters is whether they have safe sex or not." p 157
Themes and Triggers: Teen sexuality, unsafe sex, activism, poverty, dysfunctional families.
Best part: The book was really easy to read. I also appreciate that Marvelyn does not blame the person who infected her or out him in the book. She refers to him, somewhat ironically, as her Prince Charming. She sees this as a societal problem, not just a personal one.
Worst part: The worst part of this is not Marvelyn's writing or fault in any way. The worst part (from my perspective) is how some reviews talk about Marvelyn's story. Here's an example from the Goodreads summary: "The surprisingly hopeful story of how a straight, nonpromiscuous, everyday girl contracted HIV and how she manages to stay upbeat, inspired, and more positive about life than ever before" Nonpromiscuous? Let's think about THAT for a minute.
In my opinion, a large part of the reason that Marvelyn's voice is heard in the mainstream is that she is seen as a "good" HIV infection - she was not a prostitute, LGBT, or a drug user. When I think about that I feel angry. As she herself points out in the book, the idea of an "innocent victim" of HIV is faulty as no one deserves the virus, even if they got it because of their own behavior. The way we treat cancer patients is quite different from how we treat HIV patients, and I think that's generally because people think if you have HIV, it's your fault. This is very, very problematic.
Related Media: Here's an interview with Marvelyn about the book and her situation. She's still living, and now a wife and mother.
Grade: B
Recommended for: If you don't know that rate of HIV infection is higher in the black community, or if you're not sure why that is, you should read this book.
Related Reads: My next planned memoir for this project is Redefining Realness by Janet Mock. The places where Brown talks about the downlow culture (hidden gay and bisexual identities for men of color) reminded me of Invisible Life by E. Lynn Harris.
#weneeddiversebooks
#50bookPoCchallenge
Author: Marvelyn Brown
Genre: Nonfiction, memoir
Setting: Most of the book is set in Tennessee, but parts in other places, from New York City, to Jamaica, to Hollywood, to South Africa. Although it's clear that Marvelyn is working hard to survive and educate others and her life as an HIV activist does not seem to me at all glamorous.
Reason for Reading: Last fall my sweetheart and I found a few boxes of free books on the side of the street. We both have a weakness for free books! He picked up the book at that time. Once I began this project he recommended this book to me as he had found it to be eye-opening.
Relevance to the Project: Book #18 for my 5o book challenge! I've really been enjoying reading memoirs for this project - I've been finding those are some of the books I've been getting the most out of. As a former safer sex educator Marvelyn's story did not surprise me. It's all too common. But she tells it well.
Finished In: Two days. It was easy to read, hard to put down.
Pages: 233
Copyright Date: 2008. In some ways it is amazing to me that this is still such an issue now, when HIV safety was already being discussed (albeit often poorly) in high schools in the 90's.
Cover: A tasteful nude black and white picture of Marvelyn.
First line: "What is wrong with this child?"
Favorite quote: "A person's sexual preference doesn't make a lick of difference (though I wish some of the men who do have homosexual or bisexual feelings could find their own self-love and stop pretending to be someone they're not). What matters is whether they have safe sex or not." p 157
Themes and Triggers: Teen sexuality, unsafe sex, activism, poverty, dysfunctional families.
Best part: The book was really easy to read. I also appreciate that Marvelyn does not blame the person who infected her or out him in the book. She refers to him, somewhat ironically, as her Prince Charming. She sees this as a societal problem, not just a personal one.
Worst part: The worst part of this is not Marvelyn's writing or fault in any way. The worst part (from my perspective) is how some reviews talk about Marvelyn's story. Here's an example from the Goodreads summary: "The surprisingly hopeful story of how a straight, nonpromiscuous, everyday girl contracted HIV and how she manages to stay upbeat, inspired, and more positive about life than ever before" Nonpromiscuous? Let's think about THAT for a minute.
In my opinion, a large part of the reason that Marvelyn's voice is heard in the mainstream is that she is seen as a "good" HIV infection - she was not a prostitute, LGBT, or a drug user. When I think about that I feel angry. As she herself points out in the book, the idea of an "innocent victim" of HIV is faulty as no one deserves the virus, even if they got it because of their own behavior. The way we treat cancer patients is quite different from how we treat HIV patients, and I think that's generally because people think if you have HIV, it's your fault. This is very, very problematic.
Related Media: Here's an interview with Marvelyn about the book and her situation. She's still living, and now a wife and mother.
Grade: B
Recommended for: If you don't know that rate of HIV infection is higher in the black community, or if you're not sure why that is, you should read this book.
Related Reads: My next planned memoir for this project is Redefining Realness by Janet Mock. The places where Brown talks about the downlow culture (hidden gay and bisexual identities for men of color) reminded me of Invisible Life by E. Lynn Harris.
#weneeddiversebooks
#50bookPoCchallenge
September 26, 2012
I didn't expect to get so drawn in to this autobiography of Marvelyn Brown, a beautiful black woman who at nineteen was diagnosed with HIV. She succinctly describes her life growing up, how she was more tomboy than academic and how her mother favored her younger sister over her. Then, as sexual encounters increased and she "fell in love" she then became sick and spent two weeks in the hospital in the 1990s where she was then diagnosed. At that point, HIV wasn't discussed much, especially in sex ed classes and Marvelyn then embarked on a journey of self-discovery which led her to some amazing places like Oprah Winfrey's couch, doing PSAs and speaking and creating her own organization to help un-stigmatize HIV and get the right information out to people.
It's so accessible for students that I would not hesitate to give it to any student. While it doesn't give you the scientific blow-by-blow, it gives you enough information to empower all to seek sexual health services and be responsible.
It's so accessible for students that I would not hesitate to give it to any student. While it doesn't give you the scientific blow-by-blow, it gives you enough information to empower all to seek sexual health services and be responsible.
January 7, 2009
I can see the value in this book for YAs, but that didn't make me ever warm up to the subject of the memoir. It is worthwhile to get the message out there to heterosexual young people that HIV doesn't discriminate; but I didn't enjoy Marvelyn Brown's voice and some of her attitudes.
May 7, 2016
Touching, Honest & Inspirational! An Eye Opening Read! I Loved It!
October 7, 2025
The Naked Truth: Young, Beautiful, and (HIV) Positive, is a memoir that is co-written by Marvelyn Brown and Courtney E. Martin. It is Marvelyn's story about living with HIV and becoming a global advocate teaching other Black youth about the risks of HIV.
She did not know she was at risk, like many youth today who are not aware of the facts they need to stay safe. It was shocking to me that in 2003, the year she got her diagnosis, from her Prince Charming, that she was so unaware. She didn't realize that HIV was even connected to AIDS, and on getting the diagnosis in the hospital she started calling everyone she knew and telling them. So early on word spread and everyone in Nashville knew her status. She learned fast and became a strong advocate with media coverage, MTV, a trip to South Africa, and being on Oprah. She outlines the hardships before and after her diagnosis and we witness her personal growth.
I had not heard of this book, until I read the book Click, where I read Courtney E. Martin bio as one of the books editors and contributors. The book is educational and I hope it reaches the right audience.
She did not know she was at risk, like many youth today who are not aware of the facts they need to stay safe. It was shocking to me that in 2003, the year she got her diagnosis, from her Prince Charming, that she was so unaware. She didn't realize that HIV was even connected to AIDS, and on getting the diagnosis in the hospital she started calling everyone she knew and telling them. So early on word spread and everyone in Nashville knew her status. She learned fast and became a strong advocate with media coverage, MTV, a trip to South Africa, and being on Oprah. She outlines the hardships before and after her diagnosis and we witness her personal growth.
I had not heard of this book, until I read the book Click, where I read Courtney E. Martin bio as one of the books editors and contributors. The book is educational and I hope it reaches the right audience.
April 1, 2018
Marvelyn brown is an african -american author and Aids active. She found of marvelous connection, and hiv/aids organization founded in 2006. She wrote the autobiography the naked truth: young, beautiful and Hiv positive.
The goodreads recommended for me this book when i finished Frederick Douglass his book. When i first saw this book in goodreads it sounded to me familiar after, reading the main points of the story i started liking the book and that why i have read this book.
This book is called naked truth:young, beautiful and hiv positive.The genre for
this book is biography and the author for this book is called Marvelyn brown. This book was published october 13 2009.
The style of this book is first person and this book was organized present, because she tells how her life was for having that disease. Marvelyn brown she wrote this book naked truth: young, beautiful and Hiv positive which tells her story as a young hetrosexul woman living with Hiv. she also explain that how the people surrounded how they used to act. “I closed my eyes again, hoping that my family wouldn’t notice that i had woken up. I was surrounded curtain, and everyone had gone home excepted for my daddy, who slept slumped over in a chair in the corner” (66). This was my main stand out moment for me. This book was really good good and i like it.
August 11, 2009
I enjoyed this book. The first night that I purchased it I stayed up late to read 11 chapters. I was fascinated by the authors story about the poor choices that lead to her HIV positive status and the road to how she got there. I also enjoyed learning what life is like for someone who is living and loving while positive. Now, with that said, I did, however, find myself being upset with her. Although she was positive she continued to make poor choices (the girl was having more sex HIV positive than me); the same types of choices that lead to her positive status in the first place. One thing she made clear in the book is that she struggled with insecurity and although I know what that can do to a person, I still found myself a little miffed with her. I also did not like the way the book ended. After saying over and over again that she learned her lesson, then proving that she had not, the book ends with her miraculously being cured of all her emotional ills and finally learning her lesson. I would have liked it more if the book had ended with her continuing to struggle with self acceptance and self love. Nevertheless, it was a good read and I recommend it.
August 21, 2010
I really believe that this book can relate to anyone who doesn't know a lot about HIV/AIDS. It read very fast and included enough information to really help people understand. I feel like it should be in the Young Adult section and required reading for teens. Her story is so sad but I think that a lot of teens go through very similar things. I wasn't really impressed with the way she handled her job situations. You would think that someone who really had to have medical insurance in order to live would do anything she could to keep it, but she just threw it away. Hopefully she's learned since then and the people with HIV who read her book are more responsible with their insurance.
June 11, 2010
Honest portrayal of a girl who is infected with HIV. Spoiler alert: the guy who gave it to her knew he had it but did not tell her before they had sex. She talks about how little people in her TN town knew about AIDS. When people found out she had HIV, she talks about the true friends who were on her side and the ones who treated her poorly. From having drinks splashed in her face to be criticized for glamourizing the illness, she talks about her daily life dealing with HIV. She is not always compliant with her medications. Although the book is not well-written, it is interesting.
January 25, 2011
I made all my nieces and nephews and any other person that I could read this book. So many people (including the author) think that it will never happen to them or worst yet, don't think at all! Uh, well it did. It's so important to educate, educate, and educate some more! Having said that, I really feel that Miss Brown didn't fully appreciate the gravity of her situation. She just came across as being rather shallow. To be fair, she is rather young but her demeanor was a turn-off. Overall, I think this could be adequate teaching material.
March 8, 2015
Marvelyn Brown is a HIV & AIDS activist educating others with her story of learning she was HIV positive. I really enjoyed Marvelyn's book and hearing her story in her own words. She was so relatable, craving the same attention and love we all do for various reasons. I appreciated her candid and honest storytelling. She is a symbol of unending hope and discovery. I highly recommend her book.
December 8, 2008
This is an important book. Marvelyn Brown's story of how she contracted HIV is heartbreaking, but the message is hopeful and motivating. This is a must read for teens, who make up the largest percentage of new HIV cases in the US. Check it out!
February 5, 2021
This is one brave young girl. She was living her life until she started feeling sick. She kept trying to push through, she didn't know what it was because she said she was never sick. But she figured with all the running around she was doing, it had caught up to her. She was working two jobs, hanging out & clubbing with her friends plus making time to see a guy & go to college classes. She was stretched thin. But then she fainted & her family took her to the hospital. The hospital didn't know what was going on because they ran so many tests & nothing was showing up. Finally one doctor decided to test her for HIV & she was positive. At the age of 19 she really had no idea what it was at the time. She started calling people & telling them, Not realizing it was a stigma that went along with testing positive. She lost friends & other things along the way but she found her voice. She became a spokesperson. Shedding light on HIV & AIDS all over the world.
February 4, 2020
An important and highly informative story that could have done with at least one more edit. There were minor errors like quotation marks facing the wrong way to the word "costumers" in place of "customers". There were also pretty glaring contradictions, such as Brown saying that she "had no idea" what HIV and AIDS were on one page and then literally, on the next page, saying that she thought "only gay men and Africans" got the virus. The powerful story of a teenager who, like most teenagers, thought she was invincible but learns she very much is not, loses some of its impact when the reader is brought out of the story by these kinds of errors. Overall, it wasn't a super read but certainly a compelling story.
April 10, 2018
A very raw autobiography of a young lady who made a simple decision that changed her life forever. Taking life for granted, taking herself for granted, Marvelyn's choice lead to her contracting HIV. Uneducated at first about what that really means, Marvelyn takes the reader through what lead to the diagnosis, how she learned about her contracting the disease, how she handled it, and how it drove her to change all that she knew about herself. Through the rawness you can see the ignorance of society and self, the struggle of a broken home, the fear and the strength as they all come out in different steps of Marvelyns path. Great read!
March 5, 2022
Such a good read! And now learning the guy that gave her HIV and didn’t tell her he has it (this is before U=U), actually got in trouble w the law! Anyhow highly recommend! Keep in mind info on HIV has changed since this book. And now undetectable (by 6 month mark) means untransmittable which is a huge landslide for those that are HIV positive! I have Lyme so that’s what drew me into this book! Great story!
January 20, 2020
3.5 *'s
I am grateful that Marvelyn choose to share her story. Those of us that are educated about HIV take it for granted that everyone else is to. It was shocking to read that in the early 2000's in the US, so many people did not know that HIV was sexually transmitted. So much heartache can be prevented with education!
I am grateful that Marvelyn choose to share her story. Those of us that are educated about HIV take it for granted that everyone else is to. It was shocking to read that in the early 2000's in the US, so many people did not know that HIV was sexually transmitted. So much heartache can be prevented with education!
June 24, 2021
So when I ordered this book I thought it was going to be something like a juicy tell all but instead it was a story of a young lady who is very resilient, ablivuous, empowered and a chaser for the next goal. What happened to this young lady makes me question "did HIV save her?" Give it a read and come to your own conclusion.
October 16, 2020
Very good
Love this book! From beginning to end!! She made it seem like I was right next to her experiencing! Looking forward to the 2nd part
Love this book! From beginning to end!! She made it seem like I was right next to her experiencing! Looking forward to the 2nd part
December 28, 2016
This is the tale of Marvelyn Brown, a young woman who discovers she has HIV at the age of 19. The story takes us through her young life as a child and basketball star through to when she drops out of college and pursues a temporary career in sales until her status as HIV positive is revealed during a stay at the hospital. This is the tale of a beautiful, strong woman who makes a name and a life for herself while living with this disease.
Brown writes her story masterfully, following the typical memoir trajectory of following her story from childhood through to where she stands now. Stylistically, this is not the most original body of work, but the story stands for itself and Brown’s bravery and perseverance is inspiring and enlightening. I’m really glad she shared her story about her childhood, plenty of details pre-diagnosis really helped me as a reader understand how her diagnosis impacted her.
Brown also shared balanced insights about herself and about HIV positive status/people living with HIV. The fact that she knew next to nothing about HIV before being diagnosed and now raises awareness by speaking publicly and running shows on TV is very inspiring. It’s terrible that she now has to live with the diagnosis, but she rarely felt sorry for herself and rather shares her story with her strong and unique voice to help others. However, she does not glaze over her own share of stress and struggles both those that are directly affected by her status and those that may not be connected to HIV at all. She is very up-front about the struggles in her life, sharing her story in a way that I believe she hopes will help other people find their own peace.
She seems to have a relationship with God that ebbs and flows, and she is very open with that relationship and how that impacts her other relationships as well. However, the Christian theme is not at the fore-front of her memoir, as the fore-front is truly about raising awareness of HIV and taking care of yourself however you need to for the good of yourself and others around you.
The only negative thing I have to say about Brown’s memoir is that at times her writing was rather simplistic and bland. However, that does not prevent her message from shining through and helps to make her story more accessible to everyone. A quick read, I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to learn something new and her about this inspiring young woman’s life.
Brown writes her story masterfully, following the typical memoir trajectory of following her story from childhood through to where she stands now. Stylistically, this is not the most original body of work, but the story stands for itself and Brown’s bravery and perseverance is inspiring and enlightening. I’m really glad she shared her story about her childhood, plenty of details pre-diagnosis really helped me as a reader understand how her diagnosis impacted her.
Brown also shared balanced insights about herself and about HIV positive status/people living with HIV. The fact that she knew next to nothing about HIV before being diagnosed and now raises awareness by speaking publicly and running shows on TV is very inspiring. It’s terrible that she now has to live with the diagnosis, but she rarely felt sorry for herself and rather shares her story with her strong and unique voice to help others. However, she does not glaze over her own share of stress and struggles both those that are directly affected by her status and those that may not be connected to HIV at all. She is very up-front about the struggles in her life, sharing her story in a way that I believe she hopes will help other people find their own peace.
She seems to have a relationship with God that ebbs and flows, and she is very open with that relationship and how that impacts her other relationships as well. However, the Christian theme is not at the fore-front of her memoir, as the fore-front is truly about raising awareness of HIV and taking care of yourself however you need to for the good of yourself and others around you.
The only negative thing I have to say about Brown’s memoir is that at times her writing was rather simplistic and bland. However, that does not prevent her message from shining through and helps to make her story more accessible to everyone. A quick read, I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to learn something new and her about this inspiring young woman’s life.
May 5, 2018
Wonderful book! I respect Marvelyn Brown for walking in & sharing her truth! Her story is a prime example of Romans 8:28 & Jeremiah 29:11. HIV/AIDS awareness is a must. It's a preventable diease, only if people know how to prevent it! Wrap it up folks.
September 3, 2013
This was an engaging memoir about a young lady who discovered at the age of 19 that she had been infected with HIV. The author spent a lot of time describing her difficult childhood, perhaps in an attempt to explain where she was coming from in her approach to life and adulthood. Her mother was a strict disciplinarian who expected a lot from Marvelyn and her sister. Her father, who was a big part of her early childhood life, was a drug addict, unbeknownst to her at the time. Eventually, he and her mother split up and she no longer had that male in the home to balance out her very demanding mother. Marvelyn was a gifted athlete, but struggled in school, which apparently bothered her mother a great deal. She had little desire to turn her athletic ability into something that could help her in the future. Eventually, Marvelyn discovered her sexuality and had a few boyfriends. She went on birth control, but did not require her sexual partners to wear condoms. Unfortunately, her "Prince Charming" as he is referred to in the book, infects her with the virus, all the time knowing he was a carrier. To Marvelyn's shock, her stint in the ICU revealed that she had been infected and she knew exactly how and who. "Prince Charming" was not exactly supportive, but Marvelyn just would not let her dream of a happily ever after with him die, no matter what. She thought that because they both had HIV, that meant that they could support and help each other, but he turned out to be a player, going on to cheat on her and eventually impregnate another woman. Finally she saw the light and through some tragic events in her life, decided that she was not going to let the diagnosis get the best of her. She kept trying to succeed academically while holding down a job and trying to make an independent life for herself. Eventually, she made some contacts when she was working for a HIV advocacy organization and became an inspirational speaker, author and representative.
I had a few problems with the book and the big one is that how, in the early 2000's, a person doesn't know how HIV is transmitted? She made excuses about how she thought that only gay men and Africans contracted it, but those myths had been disproved many years ago. She also said that it was because she was a black young person living in Nashville, Tennessee. I still don't buy that. Nashville is a fairly large city and I find it pretty impossible to believe that she was not educated about sexually transmitted diseases.
The other problem I had with this book was the fact that she didn't consider herself to be promiscuous, but she was and so were her friends and peers. Many of them seemed to feel that their only worth in life was catching a man any way they could, sometimes even getting pregnant to do so.
I had a few problems with the book and the big one is that how, in the early 2000's, a person doesn't know how HIV is transmitted? She made excuses about how she thought that only gay men and Africans contracted it, but those myths had been disproved many years ago. She also said that it was because she was a black young person living in Nashville, Tennessee. I still don't buy that. Nashville is a fairly large city and I find it pretty impossible to believe that she was not educated about sexually transmitted diseases.
The other problem I had with this book was the fact that she didn't consider herself to be promiscuous, but she was and so were her friends and peers. Many of them seemed to feel that their only worth in life was catching a man any way they could, sometimes even getting pregnant to do so.
April 8, 2016
Marvelyn Brown's writing techniques in her memoir, "The Naked Truth", reveal a compelling and personal story, guiding the reader through the emotional trauma of contracting HIV. The memoir begins in her junior year of highshool. Brown is able to recount these past events and periodically foreshadow what may happen to her in the years following. Her "desperate need for love and affection" and "naïve personality" led her to blindly walk into relationships with men, knowing it was never more than a physical act. She displays her resentment for her younger self by subtly criticizing the actions she took, implying that these sexual mistakes would one day come back to bite her. Brown utilized this foreshadowing technique to lead up into suspense, nearing the climax of the story. She describes her life after college as an impending success. She is offered a basketball scholarship. She scores high enough on her ACT. She finally finds her "man". When the reader assumes that Brown is in a good physical state the phrase, "my whole world would soon come crashing down" jumps out at the reader. This phrase and others similar to it allow the reader to make predictions about the continuation of the story, based off of previous foreshadowing. In the following pages Brown describes her trip to the doctor, where she was diagnosed with HIV, confirming the reader's predictions and creating a more compelling story. By beginning the story years before her actual contraction, the reader builds an emotional connection to Brown and desires to know her fate. Brown's use of comic relief is also very effectual, as she is able to make a point about the education given to students about STD's. She states that the only information she was given about AIDS is that "Only gay white dudes could get it" and although funny, it reveals a larger truth that high schoolers are not receiving enough information about the dangers of unprotected sex. Overall, Marvelyn Brown's description of her life is one of tragedy and heartbreak, but in the publication of her memoir, the reader can take away a better sense of both sexual security and knowledge.
March 5, 2013
I choose to read “The Naked Truth: Young, Beautiful, and (HIV) Positive” by Marvelyn Brown out of curiosity. I looked at the cover of the book and saw a beautiful young woman who just look normal. I turned the book over and read the back text. At that moment I said this young lady has a story to be told, so I will read this book from beginning to end.
I can say for myself that this book is a good read, I would tell another person to read this book because it honestly opens up your eyes to a person who’s life developed into a new life over night. What I mean by that is, when I first opened up the the book I noticed she told the story from the past to the present.
I have chosen two quotes from the book to show how the story develop from past to present. Quote #1 is “As a child, I adored my mother, but I was definitely a daddy’s girl.” I chose this quote because it shows how her family started off as I good loving family. Quote #2 is “It was one of those moments––a “just this one little thing” prayer. I chose this quote because I have had one of those moments but I felt like her life could have used a little more of these but she was strong enough to handle life.
Marvelyn Brown was a young lady who grow up in Nashville, Tennessee where she lived her mother and her sisters. As she got older, things started to change, first her family moved a rounded, she started high school and fell in love with sports. She had became close with a group of friends and had her rivals that she hated. As she got a little bit older, she met this boy who she loved like no other boy before and then after loving him she found out she was HIV positive.
I can say for myself that this book is a good read, I would tell another person to read this book because it honestly opens up your eyes to a person who’s life developed into a new life over night. What I mean by that is, when I first opened up the the book I noticed she told the story from the past to the present.
I have chosen two quotes from the book to show how the story develop from past to present. Quote #1 is “As a child, I adored my mother, but I was definitely a daddy’s girl.” I chose this quote because it shows how her family started off as I good loving family. Quote #2 is “It was one of those moments––a “just this one little thing” prayer. I chose this quote because I have had one of those moments but I felt like her life could have used a little more of these but she was strong enough to handle life.
Marvelyn Brown was a young lady who grow up in Nashville, Tennessee where she lived her mother and her sisters. As she got older, things started to change, first her family moved a rounded, she started high school and fell in love with sports. She had became close with a group of friends and had her rivals that she hated. As she got a little bit older, she met this boy who she loved like no other boy before and then after loving him she found out she was HIV positive.
June 7, 2013
Somtimes the truth hurts...
The Naked Truth is a beautifully written memoir. Not only is it gripping in its honesty, but it is also an eye opener which exposes the outstanding misconceptions regarding HIV/AIDS. Marvelyn is capable of telling her story, her way. It is completely straightforward and no aspects of her trying life are sugar coated for us readers. As you read on through each raw and unscripted chapter, you will become emotionally attached to Marvelyn, as if she is someone you have known all your life. It is as heart wrenching as it is fascinating to be part of Marvelyn’s life changing experience when she became infected with the deathly virus of HIV. Possibly one of the most interesting aspects of this memoir is that we get to in a way witness a scared young girl blossom into a self-assured and successful young woman. Any parent, young woman and guidance counselor would benefit from the insight provided by Marvelyn’s cautionary tale. Many women struggle with self-love and confidence just as Marvelyn had; however, we can all feel empowered after reading her inspirational life story. Marvelyn is not only an exemplary role model for all women; she is also a symbol of hope. After reading how Marvelyn was able to deal with not only the life threatening virus HIV, but with all the surrounding negativity that comes with it, you will be left feeling brave, confident and prepared for whatever life throws your way. We are all capable of overcoming life’s challenges with grace. The key to it all, as Marvelyn perfectly demonstrated, is to never give up on yourself.
The Naked Truth is a beautifully written memoir. Not only is it gripping in its honesty, but it is also an eye opener which exposes the outstanding misconceptions regarding HIV/AIDS. Marvelyn is capable of telling her story, her way. It is completely straightforward and no aspects of her trying life are sugar coated for us readers. As you read on through each raw and unscripted chapter, you will become emotionally attached to Marvelyn, as if she is someone you have known all your life. It is as heart wrenching as it is fascinating to be part of Marvelyn’s life changing experience when she became infected with the deathly virus of HIV. Possibly one of the most interesting aspects of this memoir is that we get to in a way witness a scared young girl blossom into a self-assured and successful young woman. Any parent, young woman and guidance counselor would benefit from the insight provided by Marvelyn’s cautionary tale. Many women struggle with self-love and confidence just as Marvelyn had; however, we can all feel empowered after reading her inspirational life story. Marvelyn is not only an exemplary role model for all women; she is also a symbol of hope. After reading how Marvelyn was able to deal with not only the life threatening virus HIV, but with all the surrounding negativity that comes with it, you will be left feeling brave, confident and prepared for whatever life throws your way. We are all capable of overcoming life’s challenges with grace. The key to it all, as Marvelyn perfectly demonstrated, is to never give up on yourself.
January 26, 2009
Very sad, but true. People know their status and continue to pass this deadly disease without caring. Sadly Marvelyn had to suffer. Marvelyn is making a difference by making people aware and being honest about her status, which I could imagine would be very hard. After reading this book, I talked with my kids once again about HIV, AIDs. I showed them the pictures of Marvelyn and they both thought she was so beautiful, when I told them she had HIV neither could believe it. I explained to them both, you will never know anyone status by their appearance. You must always protect YOURSELF, NO MATTER WHAT!"
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September 8, 2009Be careful when you have sex. Always use protection. Make sure you and your partner are tested for HIV before you engage in sexual activity. I'm a young girl myself. I'm only 14 years old. With all the disease going on in the world, you should know that you need to use protection at all times before you make the worst decision in your life. I also learned that HIV is the disease that may or may not lead to full-blown AIDS. If the doctor finds it in your body in advance, there is treatment that you can go through to cure it. You have to make sure your health insurance is ready so you can be able to handle it financially.
January 7, 2015
After reading about her struggle, I thought about every sexual partner I had and questioned why I didn't get them tested although I used protection with all of them. Most importantly, I am not HIV positive and get tested once a year. I thought about my little sisters and if they will understand the importance of being aware of their health once they become sexually active. It is a nasty world, full of millions of diseases and traumas but if we can control one thing: It is who we choose to trust and how far we would go to prove it. More parents need to have their pre-teens read this so they can be given a literary taste of how the real world works.
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