Liveforever

Book excerpt: Andrés Caicedo's novel Liveforever is a wild celebration of youth, hedonism and the transforming power of music. María del Carmen Huerta lives a respectable middle-class life in Colombia. One day she misses class, and discovers she cannot return to her ordinary existence but must pursue her passion for dancing across the city. We follow her from rumbas in car parks to concerts in shantytowns as she gives in to every desire - however dark. Published in 1977, Liveforever was its young author's masterpiece - and final work. Andrés Caicedo took his life the day it was published, but it has been recognized as a landmark in Colombian literature ever since. Andrés Caicedo was born in Cali, Colombia on September 29, 1951. In his short life, he wrote dozens of articles on film, several plays, screenplays, novellas, and countless short stories, with a prominent focus on social discord. He committed suicide at the age of 25.