Marvin V. Arnett is a retired manager who worked in the federal service for more than twenty-five years and is a former vice president of the National Organization of Blacks in Government. Arnett is a member of The Society of Midland Authors. She lives in Southfield, Michigan, where she lectures and tutors.

"In this moving memoir, Arnett relates her experiences as a young African American in urban Detroit during the 1930s and 1940s. . . . Librarians everywhere will smile as they read of her 'love affair' with her adored Lathrop Library."—Library Journal "Arnett writes poignantly of growing up in Detroit during the Depression, when families of various races shared neighborhoods and meager resources even as they suffered occasional racial and ethnic discord. . . . Her memories primarily portray a sweeter time, despite its economic strife."—Booklist "Marvin Arnett's book captures in a vivid, readable, and highly personal way the reality of a time, place, and way of life that is gone forever. It is a real history as it was lived."—Professor William Linn, Humanities Department, University of Michigan, Dearborn "Arnett narrates her experiences with quiet dignity and faith. Her optimism and strength of spirit are qualities we don't see often enough in contemporary memoir."—Michael Steinberg, founding editor of Fourth Genre "Pieces from Life's Crazy Quilt places rough times beside humorous times, and the result is an understanding of the lives of black folks that would make Maya Angelou nod in agreement. . . . [It's] a delightful read—a coming-of-age story told through the keen observations of Marvin Sprague, a black girl growing up in Detroit, Michigan, during the 1930s and 40s."—Walter Benefield, African American Literature Book Club, Brooklyn, New York "In Pieces from Life's Crazy Quilt, Marvin Arnett proves to be a noteworthy memorist as she takes us through an often-forgotten part of Detroit's past. With her able assistance, we are introduced to sometimes quirky, but always memorable groups and individuals, including her own intact family, who gave the city its vibrancy and taught its children how to survive and even thrive despite the racism and tension that permeated the 1930s and 40s."—Deborah Smith Pollard, Director of African/African American Studies Program at the University of Michigan–Dearborn "Pieces from Life's Crazy Quilt is symbolic of the Depression and World War II era. [Arnett's] candid visualization makes you think you are living each day with her through the course of her journey. . . . Her style of writing is literary prose at its finest—pure, graceful, and crisp. This is an enlightening and refreshing read! Marvin Arnett has done a miraculous job with Pieces from Life's Crazy Quilt."—Tonya Howard, Reviewer, Sister Divas Book Club, Richmond, Virginia "Growing up in a northern city during the Depression years, the author describes her schooling, her love of libraries, the death of her sister, her relationship with her brother and the many adults that impacted her life. Libraries everywhere should have this book."—Lauretta Pierce, writer for The Literary World, Highlands Ranch, Colorado "An extraordinarily insightful account of urban America in the 1930s and 40s through the eyes of a young African-American girl. It is a triumph of the human spirit and an unforgettable journey. Ms. Arnett's account of the era eclipses all others in memory."—Marie Ann Poplawski, FEW Mentor Coordinator for Alternative for Girls, Detroit, Michigan "Pieces from Life's Crazy Quilt will make you laugh, cry, and stand up and cheer!"—Kathy Swartz, President, Kathy's Happy Organs, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio

• AcknowledgmentsPrologueMy Mother's QuiltsIn My Father's HouseThe Jewel in the CrownAfter the FallThe Good ReverendMy Father vs. the Church of the True BelieversTake from No Bird Her SongThe Boys of SummerTo Thine Own Self Be TrueMiss Lila's PlaceMy Brother and the Katzenjammer KidsWhat's in a Name?The Race ManDick Tracy's Not Your FriendThe MemorialNot by Bread Alone1300 BeaubienToo Much of a Good ThingThe Red-and-Black Chinchilla CoatWhen Your Gods Have Feet of ClayThe Great Feet WashingsThe VoteSophisticated LadyGreater Love Has No ManThe Color of ColorMister SandmanThat Lying WonderAll Things RelativeThe Gathering StormA New DayEpilogue

Marvin V. Arnett is a retired manager who worked in the federal service for more than twenty-five years and is a former vice president of the National Organization of Blacks in Government. Arnett is a member of The Society of Midland Authors. She lives in Southfield, Michigan, where she lectures and tutors.

"In this moving memoir, Arnett relates her experiences as a young African American in urban Detroit during the 1930s and 1940s. . . . Librarians everywhere will smile as they read of her 'love affair' with her adored Lathrop Library."—Library Journal "Arnett writes poignantly of growing up in Detroit during the Depression, when families of various races shared neighborhoods and meager resources even as they suffered occasional racial and ethnic discord. . . . Her memories primarily portray a sweeter time, despite its economic strife."—Booklist "Marvin Arnett's book captures in a vivid, readable, and highly personal way the reality of a time, place, and way of life that is gone forever. It is a real history as it was lived."—Professor William Linn, Humanities Department, University of Michigan, Dearborn "Arnett narrates her experiences with quiet dignity and faith. Her optimism and strength of spirit are qualities we don't see often enough in contemporary memoir."—Michael Steinberg, founding editor of Fourth Genre "Pieces from Life's Crazy Quilt places rough times beside humorous times, and the result is an understanding of the lives of black folks that would make Maya Angelou nod in agreement. . . . [It's] a delightful read—a coming-of-age story told through the keen observations of Marvin Sprague, a black girl growing up in Detroit, Michigan, during the 1930s and 40s."—Walter Benefield, African American Literature Book Club, Brooklyn, New York "In Pieces from Life's Crazy Quilt, Marvin Arnett proves to be a noteworthy memorist as she takes us through an often-forgotten part of Detroit's past. With her able assistance, we are introduced to sometimes quirky, but always memorable groups and individuals, including her own intact family, who gave the city its vibrancy and taught its children how to survive and even thrive despite the racism and tension that permeated the 1930s and 40s."—Deborah Smith Pollard, Director of African/African American Studies Program at the University of Michigan–Dearborn "Pieces from Life's Crazy Quilt is symbolic of the Depression and World War II era. [Arnett's] candid visualization makes you think you are living each day with her through the course of her journey. . . . Her style of writing is literary prose at its finest—pure, graceful, and crisp. This is an enlightening and refreshing read! Marvin Arnett has done a miraculous job with Pieces from Life's Crazy Quilt."—Tonya Howard, Reviewer, Sister Divas Book Club, Richmond, Virginia "Growing up in a northern city during the Depression years, the author describes her schooling, her love of libraries, the death of her sister, her relationship with her brother and the many adults that impacted her life. Libraries everywhere should have this book."—Lauretta Pierce, writer for The Literary World, Highlands Ranch, Colorado "An extraordinarily insightful account of urban America in the 1930s and 40s through the eyes of a young African-American girl. It is a triumph of the human spirit and an unforgettable journey. Ms. Arnett's account of the era eclipses all others in memory."—Marie Ann Poplawski, FEW Mentor Coordinator for Alternative for Girls, Detroit, Michigan "Pieces from Life's Crazy Quilt will make you laugh, cry, and stand up and cheer!"—Kathy Swartz, President, Kathy's Happy Organs, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio

• AcknowledgmentsPrologueMy Mother's QuiltsIn My Father's HouseThe Jewel in the CrownAfter the FallThe Good ReverendMy Father vs. the Church of the True BelieversTake from No Bird Her SongThe Boys of SummerTo Thine Own Self Be TrueMiss Lila's PlaceMy Brother and the Katzenjammer KidsWhat's in a Name?The Race ManDick Tracy's Not Your FriendThe MemorialNot by Bread Alone1300 BeaubienToo Much of a Good ThingThe Red-and-Black Chinchilla CoatWhen Your Gods Have Feet of ClayThe Great Feet WashingsThe VoteSophisticated LadyGreater Love Has No ManThe Color of ColorMister SandmanThat Lying WonderAll Things RelativeThe Gathering StormA New DayEpilogue

Marvin V. Arnett is a retired manager who worked in the federal service for more than twenty-five years and is a former vice president of the National Organization of Blacks in Government. Arnett is a member of The Society of Midland Authors. She lives in Southfield, Michigan, where she lectures and tutors.

"In this moving memoir, Arnett relates her experiences as a young African American in urban Detroit during the 1930s and 1940s. . . . Librarians everywhere will smile as they read of her 'love affair' with her adored Lathrop Library."—Library Journal "Arnett writes poignantly of growing up in Detroit during the Depression, when families of various races shared neighborhoods and meager resources even as they suffered occasional racial and ethnic discord. . . . Her memories primarily portray a sweeter time, despite its economic strife."—Booklist "Marvin Arnett's book captures in a vivid, readable, and highly personal way the reality of a time, place, and way of life that is gone forever. It is a real history as it was lived."—Professor William Linn, Humanities Department, University of Michigan, Dearborn "Arnett narrates her experiences with quiet dignity and faith. Her optimism and strength of spirit are qualities we don't see often enough in contemporary memoir."—Michael Steinberg, founding editor of Fourth Genre "Pieces from Life's Crazy Quilt places rough times beside humorous times, and the result is an understanding of the lives of black folks that would make Maya Angelou nod in agreement. . . . [It's] a delightful read—a coming-of-age story told through the keen observations of Marvin Sprague, a black girl growing up in Detroit, Michigan, during the 1930s and 40s."—Walter Benefield, African American Literature Book Club, Brooklyn, New York "In Pieces from Life's Crazy Quilt, Marvin Arnett proves to be a noteworthy memorist as she takes us through an often-forgotten part of Detroit's past. With her able assistance, we are introduced to sometimes quirky, but always memorable groups and individuals, including her own intact family, who gave the city its vibrancy and taught its children how to survive and even thrive despite the racism and tension that permeated the 1930s and 40s."—Deborah Smith Pollard, Director of African/African American Studies Program at the University of Michigan–Dearborn "Pieces from Life's Crazy Quilt is symbolic of the Depression and World War II era. [Arnett's] candid visualization makes you think you are living each day with her through the course of her journey. . . . Her style of writing is literary prose at its finest—pure, graceful, and crisp. This is an enlightening and refreshing read! Marvin Arnett has done a miraculous job with Pieces from Life's Crazy Quilt."—Tonya Howard, Reviewer, Sister Divas Book Club, Richmond, Virginia "Growing up in a northern city during the Depression years, the author describes her schooling, her love of libraries, the death of her sister, her relationship with her brother and the many adults that impacted her life. Libraries everywhere should have this book."—Lauretta Pierce, writer for The Literary World, Highlands Ranch, Colorado "An extraordinarily insightful account of urban America in the 1930s and 40s through the eyes of a young African-American girl. It is a triumph of the human spirit and an unforgettable journey. Ms. Arnett's account of the era eclipses all others in memory."—Marie Ann Poplawski, FEW Mentor Coordinator for Alternative for Girls, Detroit, Michigan "Pieces from Life's Crazy Quilt will make you laugh, cry, and stand up and cheer!"—Kathy Swartz, President, Kathy's Happy Organs, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio

• AcknowledgmentsPrologueMy Mother's QuiltsIn My Father's HouseThe Jewel in the CrownAfter the FallThe Good ReverendMy Father vs. the Church of the True BelieversTake from No Bird Her SongThe Boys of SummerTo Thine Own Self Be TrueMiss Lila's PlaceMy Brother and the Katzenjammer KidsWhat's in a Name?The Race ManDick Tracy's Not Your FriendThe MemorialNot by Bread Alone1300 BeaubienToo Much of a Good ThingThe Red-and-Black Chinchilla CoatWhen Your Gods Have Feet of ClayThe Great Feet WashingsThe VoteSophisticated LadyGreater Love Has No ManThe Color of ColorMister SandmanThat Lying WonderAll Things RelativeThe Gathering StormA New DayEpilogue