Brooklyn Bookbeat: A turbulent mother-daughter relationship
New Brooklyn resident Domenica Ruta has just released her debut memoir – a coming-of-age tale titled “With Or WithoutYou.” In the book, which went on sale yesterday, Ruta examines her turbulent relationship with her mother. Ruta grew up north of Boston in the town of Danvers. Her mother, Kathi, was a drug addict and dealer in the neighborhood who was torn between her debilitating habits and her highbrow tastes.
Despite her erratic behavior, Kathi always emphasized to her daughter that art could transcend the perilous and often painful life that she herself was living. In her brave and poignant memoir, Ruta manages to recall her unconventional experience growing up in the ‘90s while at the same time illustrating the universal challenges of navigating family relationships throughout the journey into adulthood.
In celebration of Ruta’s new book (and, of course, her new move to Brooklyn), Brooklyn Eagle checked in with the author, who shares with us her fears about publishing this memoir and offers a book recommendation.