If I Told You Once

In her utterly original novel about mothers, daughters, and love, Judy Budnitz gives the traditional folktale an electrifying twist as she follows four generations of women from an Eastern European village to the tenements of an American city. Elena, born into a family ruled by a formidable mother, embarks on an epic journey to the New World, met along the way by evil, magic, and good fortune. The daughter, grand-daughter, and great-granddaughter who follow each share her special powers of observation and, often, destruction. The result is a family saga unlike any other: a hilarious, heartbreaking story of family ties that bind.

"Wonderfully wrought, with language as simple and straightforward as a fable, alive with a stunning metaphorical quality."--New York Newsday

"Nothing less than a tour de force." -The Forward

"Mesmerizing...This is a definite read for anyone bored by traditional tales." -Seventeen

"A bold first novel....A powerful telling of the immigrant experience."-The Los Angeles Times

"Splendid...If there is any complaint to be made, it is that the novel ends too soon and the reader is forced to close the covers and drift back into reality." -San Diego Union-Tribune

Judy Budnitz's stories have appeared in Story, The Paris Review, Glimmer Train, and 25 And Under. She lives in Manhattan.