The Old Man Who Read Love Stories takes place in three time periods: the present, the distant past, and the recent past. As the book opens in the present day, the omniscient narrator describes the weather in the town of El Idilio: “The sky was a donkey’s swollen paunch hanging threateningly low overhead” (1). The Amazon Rainforest’s rainy is about to begin, and the warm and sticky wind “violently” rattles the banana trees as well as the town hall.

The town is sparsely populated and isolated, and sees few visitors. There is one visitor who comes two times a year: the dentist, Dr. Rubicundo Loachamín. He arrives by the Sucre, a boat that has seen better days. Sucre is also the name of Ecuador’s paper money. The boat is described as an “ancient floating tub” (3) just big enough for a skipper, the dentist, and two crew members. The inhabitants of El Idilio are always happy to see Dr. Loachamín; he pulls out their rotten, painful teeth and supplies them with dentures. Since the Sucre is a supply boat, the villagers are also eager for their resupply of staples like beer, gas, and salt.