The Seven Good Years: A Memoir

Karpovsky, a prolific young actor and filmmaker best known for his roles in HBO’s Girls, brings tremendous attention to detail and emotional depth to the new nonfiction title from Israeli fiction writer Keret. Keret chronicles the eventful time period between the birth of his son and the death of his father through a series of short vignettes from daily life, which gradually interconnect against a backdrop of political unrest in the Middle East. Karpovsky, the American son of Jewish Russian immigrants, beautifully masters the range of accents in the narrative. He also captures the developing speech patterns of Keret’s little boy, Lev, from vulnerable toddlerhood to the assertiveness and independence of a seven-year-old. Karpovsky scores in his rendering of the author’s aging parents through such memorable interactions as playing Angry Birds with their grandson. The sheer humanity in both the serious and lighthearted moments makes for a captivating listening experience. A Riverhead hardcover. (June)