The Naked Truth: Young, Beautiful and HIV Positive by Marvelyn Brown
By Angelia Menchan • Nov 29th, 2008 • Category: Book Review •
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The Naked Truth: Young, Beautiful and HIV Positive by Marvelyn Brown is the inside story of a young woman’s life and how it was changed by personal choices and behavior. Marvelyn Brown is a young woman who was born into a family where she felt adored by her father and ignored by her mother. As long as her father was in the home, she felt like his princess. However, once he was gone, she often felt she was not good enough to live up to her mother’s expectations. As a result, she often found herself underachieving and feeling she was not as attractive as others. The one talent she knew she had was her athletic ability, but, she did not often focus on that because she felt is was what her mother wanted. One day, the tomboyish Marvelyn discovered she was `fine’ and that the boys were attracted to her and that began a change in her life.
The reader gets to see Marvelyn go through a transformation as she goes on an attention-seeking quest. Her desire to be loved leads to a few sexual partners until she finally ends up with The ONE. She notices him from across a field and is immediately smitten, so smitten, she dubs him, her `Prince Charming.’ They are immediately embroiled in a relationship. Marvelyn is so taken by his charm and attentiveness that she has unprotected sex with him a couple of times, though she knows better. Almost immediately, thereafter, she is plagued with tiredness and is unsure what ails her and she ends up in the hospital. After several misdiagnoses, it is discovered she is HIV positive.
The way she deals with her newfound status is to tell everyone and immediately discovers how her news affects others. Most distressing is how her `Prince’ takes the news. She knows from his response that he is not surprised. From that point I am absolutely astonished by how she continues a relationship with him and how cavalier and in denial he remains. I am also amazed with how calmly she deals with it. There are many challenges and so many times when she is publicly humiliated. She also discovers there is not always support from those closest to her, but she manages to get through. In her journey, she discovers she has an opportunity to reach and teach others.
It is wonderful to see Marvelyn transform from a duck into a swan who delivers the word about getting tested and protecting oneself from HIV. She travels the world, becoming an honest, young ambassador for her community. I feel The Naked Truth: Young, Beautiful and HIV positive should be part of every young person’s library. In fact, readers of all ages stand to learn from this young woman’s mission. This book would be a wonderful way to say Merry Christmas to the young people in your life.
Angelia Menchan
APOOO BookClub
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Angelia Menchan is wife, mother, mentor and the author of five books, most recently, “Is No Not Clear Enough For You? She is a reviewer for APOOO Exchange Team. Angelia currently works as a Budget Officer, but her most rewarding work experience was as Job Corps Counselor. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her love and reading. Her motto is, “You Get from the Universe, What You Give to the Universe.” She can be contacted at www.angeliavmenchan.com and http://acvermen.blogspot.com
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