hˈæŋɪŋ ˌoʊvɚ ðə nˈɑːvəl ɪz ɐ sˈiːn fɹʌm kˌoʊˈɛtsiːz ˈoʊn lˈaɪf: ðə dˈɛθ ʌv hɪz sˈʌn æt twˈɛnti θɹˈiː ɪn ɐ mɪstˈɪɹiəs fˈɔːlɪŋ ˈæksɪdənt.
Hanging over the novel is a scene from Coetzee's own life: the death of his son at 23 in a mysterious falling accident.