CLEAN

By Ken Sweet
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Paperback, 171 pages
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 (7 Ratings)
CLEAN
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Benjamin Whyte is about to set out on a quest. When his world begins to collapse around him, Ben recalls a vision he had as a child--a vision of cool water that can wash away the grime and filth accumulated over the course of a lifetime, a vision of a glowing light that can heal and make whole--a vision of CLEAN. He also remembers the shadowy stranger who barred his path. Leaving his former life behind him, Ben embarks on a journey to find CLEAN. Following the recommendation of a mysterious new friend, he purchases a plane ticket and travels through a land of ancient spirituality in search of his goal. CLEAN is a chronicle of this adventure; an adventure full of peril, romance, enlightenment, and ultimately, a confrontation with the dark man himself.
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Jul. 25, 2009 By M T Danielson
"Mr. Clean And Me!!!!"
I've just finished reading Clean by Ken Sweet and I have to say it was rather incredible. What I can’t seem to get over is how generous Sweet was with his disclosing of personal information, not holding anything back as he freely gave us every ounce of emotion whether it was the unconditional love he has for his family or the agony he felt at the end of his real-life marriage, not to mention all the other things that have plagued and/or haunted him throughout his life. I feel as though Clean wasn't just a personal anecdote, but almost more along the lines of a confessional. As if the book itself might be an attempt to get the author clean. This puts the reader in a... More > most powerful position. Almost as if, we, as a collective audience, might decide whether or not we will clean Ken Sweet.

If you want to look at Clean in another way: everyone has a skeleton or two in their closet - different infractions we’ve made that we’re almost certain are keeping us outside the pearly gates. And so, when we see that there might be a place to get Clean, to rid us of all these black marks, just like the Pied Piper, the author leads us along on this quest. To the point where sometimes I found myself thinking, Bath, now that must be the place. Or, well? So this must be the place as I too, was getting more and more desperate to be Cleaned.

Another note: I found the book to be absolutely packed with amazing detail and information about Sweet’s apparent love: Britain. It truly was as if we were there. And the persuasive power of the author’s words, made the British churches and wells and quaint little towns that much more appealing. It was this bombardment of positive spin on Britain that made me want to follow the protagonist almost anywhere, since the good was seen in almost every person or place we came across. And yet, whenever this safely woven cocoon of curious travel is disrupted by the occasional appearance of this reoccurring dark being, well it’s that much more creepy, and perhaps this was the writer’s intentions all along.

Clean is a privilege to read, and a real and true glimpse into a man’s insides, as he strives to overturn what’s wrong both inside and outside of himself. It is the opportunity for us as readers to play the psychiatrist to a most troubled young man, as he, along with his comrades, walks and talks his way across the British countryside and hopefully, back to well-being. I give it 73 stars out of a possible 22, which is quite favorable wouldn’t you say...

Michael Danielson, author of some stuff < Less
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Aug. 23, 2006 By smmoore730
"Smoore about Clean" I really enjoyed the book and the details he put into it. Knowing "Ben" really made the book seem easier to understand. Also the details were clear, and bold. Awsome Job.
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May. 10, 2009 By Edward Davis
"Clean is wonderful" "Clean" is a great story, that grabs hold of the reader from the beginning, and doesn't let go until the very end. Every chapter ends in a way that makes you want to keep reading, just to see what happens next. I found the book almost impossible to put down. Ken uses wonderful description, that really paints a picture in your mind. His characters are well developed and very believable. "Clean" is a story that many can relate to. It is a thought provoking, insightful story that will really leave you thinking.
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Jun. 21, 2008 By Henry Martin
Ken Sweet's Clean, brought back many of my own memories. When I first opened the book, I didn't know what to expect. In fact, the title itself does not give much away. But after reading the first few pages, I lifted my eyes from the ink covered paper, and thought to myself; Is this a novel or a confession? From the very beginning, I felt I can relate. Who did not have a an awful childhood sickness? Who does not struggle in a relationship? Which one of us does not want top get up and leave, trying out life somewhere else, after talking to a complete stranger. I think we all do. Reading Ken Sweet's novel had brought back many of my own feelings and experiences, not only making them vivid once... More > again, but helping me see them through someone else's eyes. It has been said many times, that first novels tend to be largely influenced by the author's own life. Whether this is true with Clean, I leave up to the author and the readers. At times, this book reads as a semi-autobiographical material, but that is what makes this book only better. The author managed to pull us into the world of Benjamin Whyte, making his emotions our emotions, his desires our desires. We can share his points of view, his feelings, and his becoming of Clean, as he lets us into his most intimate thoughts.
I have enjoyed Ken Sweet's easy to read writing style, keeping the reader involved in the story. I would certainly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys and appreciates a meaningful, quality literature. < Less
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Aug. 29, 2009 By Phillip Hardy
"Clean packs a wallop" I just read Ken Sweet’s preview of his new novel “Clean” and I have to say it is one of the finest works I have seen here at lulu. His brilliant opening chapter is entirely riveting and has the pizzazz that a chapter one should have to capture the reader. Benjamin Whyte, a child recovering from a serious bout with pneumonia has a brush with metaphysical beings that beckon him into a luminescent white light. But an ominous being (possibly the grim reaper) blocks the boy from going into the space between life and death and he grows up to remember the incident as a drug induced hallucination. Whether you believe in a Judeo-Christian God or apparitions inhabiting some kind of purgatory between heaven and hell, this book begins with a bang.
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Product Details

ISBN 978-1-4116-9601-3
Copyright Standard Copyright License
Publisher Lulu
Published May 21, 2011
Language English
Pages 171
 
Binding Perfect-bound Paperback
Interior Ink Black & white
Dimensions (inches) 6.0 wide × 9.0 tall

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