Carandiru Station - Drauzio Varella

I read Carandiru Station by Drauzio Varella. It’s a strong, impactful book that’s hard to put down.

The author narrates his experience as a volunteer doctor inside the São Paulo House of Detention, which was once the largest prison in Latin America. What struck me was the mix of clinical eye with humanity. Varella doesn’t judge, he observes and describes, and in doing so, shows the brutality, personal stories, and contradictions of the prison system.

I’m a big fan of movies and documentaries set in prison environments, and this book delivered that same raw impact. It’s full of heavy stories, but ones that feel truthful, and it doesn’t fail to show human fragility. Many moments left me unsettled, and I think that’s precisely the book’s strength, it’s not meant to comfort, it’s meant to confront reality.

The direct style helps. No embellishments, no artificial drama, just facts and experiences told clearly. That’s why the reading is so striking.

It’s not just good, it’s important. One of those books that keeps echoing long after you’ve closed the final page.