What age do you feel the reader has to be to read this book?

What age do you have to be to fully understand and appreciate this book and not be overwhelmed by the subject matter?

Perhaps a high school student could read this novel and be able to appreciate the writing and accept the horrifying acts of violence and senseless terror.

I think an older high school student could read this novel, but it is gruesome in parts so I would be judicious if I was assigning it.

Depending on maturity level and comprehension of subject matter would have to be considered. Given the violence in cinemas these days, for me a pre-dialog and brief history, with disclosure of graphic violence. In short would depend on the individual.

I believe to really get the most out of this book a person would need to be very mature. A person returning from Iran, etc would certainly understand the many levels of this narrative. I am not sure a high school student, no matter how mature could appreciate the author's style or the subject matter. I have friends over 60 who could not either (lol).

I totally agree with sandeo regarding the maturity of the person reading this book as to the style and subject matter. I am over 60 and I am not sure I appreciated the author's style either )

Age? Not sure. But surely someone old enough to appreciate the complexities, the grays, the fragility of life. Others would surely be moved by this novel, but would need to read it again -later- to internalize it more substantially.

While I agree with many of the respondents that this book is primarily for mature readers, I also believe that books can be read at many times in a reader's life. We grow as readers and then return to to a book which we perhaps didn't understand or in which we were able to follow a plot and even react to characters and have on rereading it a much deeper and more rewarding experience.