The book's Narrator, Rodrigo S. M., is both mysterious and philosophical, and takes quite some time to get around to telling us the story at all. After all, what is a story, really? This issue absorbs him, and he spends a considerable part of the first chapter telling the reader about his own philosophical beliefs and motives, and what he thinks is the meaning of storytelling.
Rodrigo does eventually get around to beginning his story; although, it is not his story at all, but Macabeas's. Macabea is nineteen years old, lives in grinding poverty, and hails from the north eastern part of Brazil. Like most north-easterners, she is both dazzled and confused by the urban sprawl that is Rio de Janeiro, where she lives now. Her life is challenging and difficult, but this never seems to get her down, because she never really realizes that it is challenging, or difficult. She is oblivious to her own hardships, and has an almost rose-tinted view of both her life, and life in general.
Macabea also has a tendency to see too much good in others, even when there is really not very much to see. This is the case when she meets Olimpico. She begins dating him, but very soon in their relationship he becomes abusive and mistreats her. She stays with him, believing in the potential of the relationship despite the reality of it. The thanks that she gets for her loyalty is betrayal; Olimpico dumps her, and takes up with her co-worker, Gloria. For her part, Gloria feels very guilty about the whole episode (although not quite guilty enough to end her relationship with Olimpico). She tells Macabea that she should consult with a fortune teller that she knows; Gloria believes that Madame Carlota will be able to offer her both guidance and hope.
Macabea does as Gloria suggests; she consults Madame Carlota and learns that her life is soon going to turn around. She will soon be happy, she will have financial riches come into her life, and she will meet a good man named Hans, whom she will marry.
Only one of these predictions actually comes true. Not only does Macabea's life turn around, it ends completely. She is killed when a yellow Mercedes runs her down in the street, without ever stopping.
