Infección

by Andrés Caicedo

Unknown Binding

About the author

Luis Andrés Caicedo Estela was a Colombian writer born in Cali, the city where he would spend most of his life. Despite his premature death, his work is considered one of the most original in Colombian literature. Caicedo leaded different cultural movements in the city like the literary group "Los Dialogantes" (Those who speak), the Cinema Club of Cali and the "Ojo con el Cine" Magazine (Attention to the Cinema). In 1970 he won the First Literary Contents of Caracas with his work "Los dientes de caperucita" (The Teeth of Little Red Riding Hood) that opened the doors of national recognition for him. Some sources say that he used to say that to live more than 25 years was a shame and it is seen as the main reason of his suicide on March 4, 1977 when he was that age.

Caicedo's work has as its context the urban world and its social conflicts, especially those of young people. Contrary to the school of magic realism, the work of Caicedo is grounded completely in social reality. Therefore, some scholars give importance to his work as an alternative in Latin America to prominent figures such as Gabriel García Márquez, especially through the research of the Chilean journalist, writer and movie critic Alberto Fuguet who called Caicedo "The first enemy of Macondo". Despite his fame in Colombia, Caicedo is little known in Latin America, maybe for his early death. However his work is becoming known thanks to the influence of his works in new writer generations such as Rafael Chaparro, Efraim Medina Reyes, Manuel Giraldo, Octavio Escobar and Ricardo Abdahllah.

Reviews

[—kyu♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bienaventurados los imbéciles,
Porque de ellos es el reino de la tierra.

Al leer este cuento no pude dejar de pensar en Goffman y las fachadas. Creo que el personaje de esta historia esta cansado de eso, de aparentar; pero en una sociedad que aparenta siempre, es imposible dejar estas fachadas de lado. Así que es en este espacio cuando puede dejar salir todo lo que le aqueja, después de todo, está solo. Tiene al otro, a sí mismo, pero no deja de ser él, de igual forma.
Es interesante, es una historia que transmite bastante. Me gustaría leerla más adelante, cuando mi capacidad de interpretación tenga más de dónde agarrar. Pero así, me ha parecido genial.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Odio no amarme.

[Doctor Fastuo · Rating 5 out of 5]

La odio por no odiarme, por no saber que hacer, odio mi ciudad por que al final la conozco, odio tantas cosas por que al final de cierta forma la amo.

[Daniela Suarez Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

La hipocresía es la constante de una sociedad infectada, el amor y el odio no son tan diferentes y de uno al otro no hay mucho espacio, todo se consume en lo que falsamente es.