BREAKING DISTANCES, written by this editor, Valdenes Guilherme, is a collection of stories that spans different eras and encompasses diverse cultures.
Beginning in Vila Rica, around 1776, the story revolves around Brenda, a humble woman who arrived in the city that year and began selling food on the streets. A few years later, the Frenchwoman Jacilene arrives in the city, and despite being sheltered in the house of the villainous Sinhá Adriana, she becomes friends with Brenda. This story takes place in the context of the Independence of the United States, the French Revolution, and the Inconfidência Mineira (Minas Gerais Conspiracy).
In 1865, Baron Almir, Brenda's grandson, lives in Fortaleza, Ceará. One of his daughters, Alvanir, a magnificent, intelligent woman ahead of her time, stands out as a writer, historian, teacher, singer, and composer. She arouses envy in the wicked Armanda, her cousin, but manages to overcome all obstacles.
In her old age, Alvanir moved to the interior of Pernambuco, to the small Maniçoba farm, which would later belong to Vila Dourada, founded by the Frenchwoman Jacilene. Mônica, one of Alvanir's daughters, settled on the farm itself, which was located halfway between Limoeiro and Caruaru, and remained there.
In 1935, the Maniçoba farm began to grow with the arrival of Italian immigrants who had fled fascism in Italy and settled there in the Pernambuco hinterland. But Jadiael, one of the immigrants, waged a war over land ownership with a local colonel, Jefferson, who had come from Ceará. This war, however, did not prevent the friendship between Antônio Neto – Mônica's son, who was from the same family as Colonel Jefferson – and the young immigrant Alycia, daughter of the Italian Jadiael, nor the love between the Italian Moysés and Naná, the colonel's sister from Ceará.
Years later, spurred even by a family scandal that shook the main family of Vila Dourada, the Maniçoba estate became independent from Lagoa da Italianinha, which years later grew and became larger and more developed than Vila Dourada.
Nowadays, Lagoa da Italianinha is known as "The Piece of Italy in Pernambuco," and is full of many adventures. A prominent character is Moysés and Naná's granddaughter, the vintage Fabíola, who lives as if she were in the 1950s amidst modernity. She lives in an apartment and is in love with her neighbor Tiago. Eraldo, Fabíola's brother, owns a music school, and his best friend is the former beggar Valdenes, who left the streets. Valdenes once had a forbidden romance with Josiane, the daughter of a powerful politician in the city.
Also living there are the twin sisters Wéllia and Malu, who are identical in appearance but different in behavior. Wéllia, whom Valdenes once had feelings for in his adolescence, is a presumptuous and arrogant advertising executive with serious mental health issues that become apparent when she's stressed. Malu, whose real name is Maria Luísa, is a humble, simple, unpretentious, and loving veterinarian. Malu often helps some of the city's homeless, such as Rita de Cássia – who has the mind of a child – Fábia, Gílson, Renata, Andreza, and Guilherme, Valdenes's brother, who chose to live on the streets.
In the city, some live on the streets, and among them are the villains Warlla, the well-known "chic beggar," who dresses like a lady because she's a former wealthy woman, and Priscila, known for being dangerous and spreading terror in the streets.
Other prominent characters include Marcella, a humble street vendor; Ana Karina, a teacher and historian; Danúzia, Josiane's sister, a cruel and wicked woman; Aline Débora, the florist who is Josiane's enemy because she loves Valdenes; Flávia, the former beggar who is now a lawyer and city councilwoman; Wêdja, the crazy woman who suffers from alcoholism; Joni von, the crook who calls himself the "honest scoundrel"; Wiviane, a singer and declared enemy of Fabíola; Rodolfo, a villain who is always up to mischief; Cici, Rodolfo's cousin who works in alternative transportation; Branquinha, the intelligent and independent woman with firm opinions; Esvalda, the homeless woman who hates water; the twin sisters Taline and Teane; Mayor Myllena; Judge Suely; State Representative Moab - father of Josiane and Danúzia -; State Representative Janayna and Federal Representative Sandra Valéria; the scientist Eugênio, among many others.
