Loving But Leaving A Toxic Mother In 'With or Without You'

Domenica Ruta, or Nikki, as she goes by in the book, is an addict, alcoholic and occasional drug user, but perhaps the most complicated and toxic part of her addiction is the relationship she has with her mother — a bleached and tattooed brawler who believed it was more important to be interesting than good, who did and occasionally dealt drugs, and who allowed her daughter to stay home from school whenever a good movie was on.

NPR's Rachel Martin interviews Ruta -- http://www.npr.org/2013/02/24/172598258/loving-but-leaving-a-toxic-mother-in-without-you