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The Ditchdigger's Daughters: A Black Family's Astonishing Success Story
A biography by a New Jersey doctor tells how her parents, who held down multiple jobs and transmitted strong values to their six daughters, inspired them to reach success
261 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1995
39 people are currently reading
1254 people want to read
About the author
Yvonne S. Thornton
9 books9 followersDR. THORNTON is a national bestselling author and a double-Board certified specialist in obstetrics, gynecology and maternal-fetal medicine and is the former Vice Chair of the Department of OB/GYN at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in New York City. She is now a consultant in perinatology.
Dr. Thornton is the first black woman in the United States to be Board-certified in High-Risk Obstetrics.
She received her medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and is a former Professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at Cornell University (Weill) Medical College.
She and her husband volunteered for active military duty and she was commissioned as a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy at The National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda (Hospital of The President)
Dr. Thornton is listed in Whos Who in America, Whos Who in the World and the has been listed in Best Doctors in the New York Metro Area. Her television appearances include: The Oprah Winfrey Show, The TODAY Show and Good Morning, America.
She was the first woman in the 165-year history of the International Platform Association to win the prestigious Daniel Webster Oratorical Competition held annually in Washington, DC.
She is the author of the best-selling family biography, The Ditchdiggers Daughters which was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and had never been out of print. The book was named ONE BOOK NEW JERSEY in 2006, and made into a World Premiere movie. Her other books include Woman to Woman and Primary Care for the Obstetrician and Gynecologist.
Dr. Thornton has been married for 35 years to an orthopedic surgeon and she is the mother of two children. Her daughter is a graduate of Stanford University and her son, also a physician, is a cum laude graduate of Harvard, received his medical degree from Columbia University and is now studying Neurosurgery.
"
Dr. Thornton is the first black woman in the United States to be Board-certified in High-Risk Obstetrics.
She received her medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and is a former Professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at Cornell University (Weill) Medical College.
She and her husband volunteered for active military duty and she was commissioned as a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy at The National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda (Hospital of The President)
Dr. Thornton is listed in Whos Who in America, Whos Who in the World and the has been listed in Best Doctors in the New York Metro Area. Her television appearances include: The Oprah Winfrey Show, The TODAY Show and Good Morning, America.
She was the first woman in the 165-year history of the International Platform Association to win the prestigious Daniel Webster Oratorical Competition held annually in Washington, DC.
She is the author of the best-selling family biography, The Ditchdiggers Daughters which was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and had never been out of print. The book was named ONE BOOK NEW JERSEY in 2006, and made into a World Premiere movie. Her other books include Woman to Woman and Primary Care for the Obstetrician and Gynecologist.
Dr. Thornton has been married for 35 years to an orthopedic surgeon and she is the mother of two children. Her daughter is a graduate of Stanford University and her son, also a physician, is a cum laude graduate of Harvard, received his medical degree from Columbia University and is now studying Neurosurgery.
"
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews
December 23, 2014
If you ever want to give up, please read this book. After reading what this family accomplished after suffering both racial and gender discrimination most of their lives, I know I will be thinking of them anytime I want to complain or feel like I quit without trying.
The story reads quickly and is both touching and engaging. I agree with other reviewers that the first part – when the family was together and Mr. Thornton was at the realm - was more interesting but I liked how Dr. Thornton talked about her journey to becoming an Obstetrician and how many obstacles she had to face because she was both a woman and black.
Mr. Thornton’s way of empowering his daughters through education reminded me of my own mother. She always emphasized the necessity of an education if I was to be independent. I’ve always known that she’s had a deep influence in me but it wasn’t as clear how much until I read this book. I never had to work as hard as the Thornton sisters (thank God! I don’t know how those poor children managed!) but when I was growing up, I never doubted even for a second that I was going to college, which wasn’t the norm in the poor Dominican town where I lived most of my childhood.
The narrator was very good although sometimes she would have problems pronouncing certain words, especially medical terms. This didn’t mar my enjoyment of the book though because those occasions were few and far between.
The story reads quickly and is both touching and engaging. I agree with other reviewers that the first part – when the family was together and Mr. Thornton was at the realm - was more interesting but I liked how Dr. Thornton talked about her journey to becoming an Obstetrician and how many obstacles she had to face because she was both a woman and black.
Mr. Thornton’s way of empowering his daughters through education reminded me of my own mother. She always emphasized the necessity of an education if I was to be independent. I’ve always known that she’s had a deep influence in me but it wasn’t as clear how much until I read this book. I never had to work as hard as the Thornton sisters (thank God! I don’t know how those poor children managed!) but when I was growing up, I never doubted even for a second that I was going to college, which wasn’t the norm in the poor Dominican town where I lived most of my childhood.
The narrator was very good although sometimes she would have problems pronouncing certain words, especially medical terms. This didn’t mar my enjoyment of the book though because those occasions were few and far between.
January 30, 2011
Okay. This is tricky to review. The story is astounding: a black ditchdigger has a goal of all 5 of his daugthers becoming doctors--in the 1950s. Yvonne and her father are amazing people, who deserve a lot of credit for what they did in their lives and are exemplary in lots of ways.
However--I really had a problem with the father's SUPER controlling methods. Sometimes I was disturbed as Yvonne praises his parenting techniques and behaviors that seem damaging to me, in lots of ways. I kept thinking "this girl needs some therapy." And sometimes I was frustrated when Yvonne told us, proudly, of how she worked 80 hour weeks AND studied for boards (and got highest scores) while pregnant, WITH a 2 year old and a husband over-seas. I don't think that's awesome; I think that's stupid.
I would recommend reading it, for sure; I think I just wanted somewhere to air my input on the lifestyle choices and parenting methods the book lauds.
However--I really had a problem with the father's SUPER controlling methods. Sometimes I was disturbed as Yvonne praises his parenting techniques and behaviors that seem damaging to me, in lots of ways. I kept thinking "this girl needs some therapy." And sometimes I was frustrated when Yvonne told us, proudly, of how she worked 80 hour weeks AND studied for boards (and got highest scores) while pregnant, WITH a 2 year old and a husband over-seas. I don't think that's awesome; I think that's stupid.
I would recommend reading it, for sure; I think I just wanted somewhere to air my input on the lifestyle choices and parenting methods the book lauds.
June 1, 2015
I got to read this book some years back and it was one of the most inspiring books I have read in some time. I wish I had kept it because I probably would have gone the distance now. Nevertheless, it's about a regular laborer who had six daughters, no boys in the plan whatsoever. Yet, he would tell his coworkers that though he wished he had a boy, he still wanted the best for his daughters and told them that they ALL would be doctors. They didn't believe him, but astonishingly, they all became professional women, which goes to show you that you can come from humble beginnings and be the very best. So many folks have shown us that and pursue the American Dream. Great to read while pursuing yours and when life sends tough.
January 20, 2012
Loved everything about this book . . .it was so well written and inspirational! It was amazing to read how much strength and determination the family had. . . Loved it!
August 18, 2022
An absolute minefield of a book.
I'm still torn on how exactly I might express whether I "liked" it or not.
I should have known just what I was getting into when I was #triggered by the first sentence of the first page, "You kids are black. You're dark-skinned and ugly."
To put things into context, I'm a black American woman. I did not grow up with my biological father and when I was young, my stepfather spent years in prison. My mother worked and I went to public schools. I'm an "elder" millennial. I am not light-skinned.
I considered the time period in which this story unfolded. I also considered that Mr. and Mrs. Thornton were from the Silent Generation, while Dr. Yvonne Thornton and her sisters were Baby Boomers. That being said the overall #cringe factor nearly blew my pissitivity meter to pieces, on more than one occasion.
As the story draws to a close and the sisters have reminisced about their father's teachings, on page 255, Dr. Thornton exclaims "We were six women. Six black women. No more or less intelligent, no more or less gifted, than any other black women. As little girls, there had been nothing special about us, nothing to set us apart from the other black children in Long Branch, New Jersey." However, anyone who has actually read this book knows that those statements are not true. For one thing, we know that Mr. Thornton would not allow his children to attend schools that were predominately black, because he believed that only white kids got the best of everything. We also know that he was well aware of how many children came from homes without a father and without a sense of stability. As a result, all of Mr. Thornton's efforts went into separating his daughters from other black children. So, the Thornton sisters WERE INDEED more intelligent and special than other black children, not just in Long Branch either. I know that Dr. Thornton wants to believe that she was no different and that's mainly because that's what her upbringing caused her to believe.
I was emotionally triggered by nearly every page in this book. I can't tell you how many times I threw my head back like, "why?" Or how many times I just wanted to launch the book right out of a 3rd story window.
List of triggers include themes of: racism, sexism, colorism, helicopter parenting, narcissistic personality traits, and abuse.
It's funny how some reviews of this book are like, "Wow! What an inspiring story." Really? From what perspective?
On one hand, I understand a parental desire to provide for your children and doing what you can to steer them in the right direction. On the other hand, I am also well aware that being over-protecting never makes things better. That approach usually pushes children away, particularly older children. More importantly, is my wisdom to know that entire communities are done a disservice when parents try to keep their children from socializing with anyone outside of their immediately families.
True to form, Mr. and Mrs. Thornton - being the Silent Genners they were - never did anything that couldn't be seen as "respectable." They knew nothing more than "hard work" and as Robert Smith of FamilySearch. org puts it, "a desire to work within the system rather than to change it." I mean. . . we now realize how toxic those ideas can be in a racist, capitalist society. Right?
I could literally write an entire book on how I feel about this book. Don't worry, I won't do that here.
So, Mr. Thornton meets and marries an older, dark-skinned woman. His mother doesn't know and when she finds out doesn't approve. On top of that, his mother treats most people like peon's, family or not. #mommyissues are glaring and I don't remember anything about his father. Later on, when asked about why Mr. Thornton doesn't try and establish closer relationships with his son's in law, he remarks that his parents didn't meddle in his relationship and he won't meddle in his daughters'. However, this is the same man who allowed his Disney movie villain of a mother to psychologically torture his children and his wife.
As for Mr. and Mrs. Thornton's parenting styles I think there was both good and bad. However, I don't like the fact that Mrs. Thornton had to sacrifice her own health over and over again, trying SO hard to birth a male child. I don't know which year men started to realize that it's indeed their own genes that determine a baby's gender, but hopefully, they know now.
His parenting style was giving manipulation, over-protection, projection, and a tinge of narcissism, to say the least. I'm still wondering how many men, specifically black men agree with the whole "independent, don't need a man, superwoman" thing today, that Mr. Thornton raised his girls to be, back then.
Paying that young man to take his daughter to the dance, making the girls do their school work on the road, and having to perform on stage, at any cost. . . IDK. There has to be a balance. Sometimes the money grabbing was a bit much.
Pushing your daughters to be doctors because some idiot guys made fun of the fact that you didn't have boys to raise seems a bit of an egotistic gesture to me. *shrugs
The daughters for the most part, thought very highly of their father and they thought he was so smart. Manipulators are also very smart at reading people and knowing what makes them tick and as much as I would have also liked to think highly of Mr. Thornton, my conscious would only allow those thoughts to go so far.
Again, keeping your children working at a young age and not balancing that out with healthy socialization borders on toxic. Keeping your children overweight to compensate or overcompensate for what you didn't have. . . toxic. Not wanting your children to ever grow up. . . WTF? Not being at all interested in your grandchildren. . . I mean, stop me if I'm wrong.
I think the icing on this sh*tcake, for me was when Mr. Thornton finally got his "son" towards the end of the book. First of all, he made his daughters feel terrible, all over again because their was an obvious sense of favoritism for this young man. Second, he praised and over-indulged the boy in ways that he never did with his girls. It was quite perplexing, actually. Ultimately, the boy let him down and ended up getting his behind kicked (by Mr. Thornton). It was a whole shame.
It was still a good read and not once did I want to disengage.
I'd love to discuss with anyone willing to speak honestly on the topics bought up in this book.
A very interesting story.
I'm still torn on how exactly I might express whether I "liked" it or not.
I should have known just what I was getting into when I was #triggered by the first sentence of the first page, "You kids are black. You're dark-skinned and ugly."
To put things into context, I'm a black American woman. I did not grow up with my biological father and when I was young, my stepfather spent years in prison. My mother worked and I went to public schools. I'm an "elder" millennial. I am not light-skinned.
I considered the time period in which this story unfolded. I also considered that Mr. and Mrs. Thornton were from the Silent Generation, while Dr. Yvonne Thornton and her sisters were Baby Boomers. That being said the overall #cringe factor nearly blew my pissitivity meter to pieces, on more than one occasion.
As the story draws to a close and the sisters have reminisced about their father's teachings, on page 255, Dr. Thornton exclaims "We were six women. Six black women. No more or less intelligent, no more or less gifted, than any other black women. As little girls, there had been nothing special about us, nothing to set us apart from the other black children in Long Branch, New Jersey." However, anyone who has actually read this book knows that those statements are not true. For one thing, we know that Mr. Thornton would not allow his children to attend schools that were predominately black, because he believed that only white kids got the best of everything. We also know that he was well aware of how many children came from homes without a father and without a sense of stability. As a result, all of Mr. Thornton's efforts went into separating his daughters from other black children. So, the Thornton sisters WERE INDEED more intelligent and special than other black children, not just in Long Branch either. I know that Dr. Thornton wants to believe that she was no different and that's mainly because that's what her upbringing caused her to believe.
I was emotionally triggered by nearly every page in this book. I can't tell you how many times I threw my head back like, "why?" Or how many times I just wanted to launch the book right out of a 3rd story window.
List of triggers include themes of: racism, sexism, colorism, helicopter parenting, narcissistic personality traits, and abuse.
It's funny how some reviews of this book are like, "Wow! What an inspiring story." Really? From what perspective?
On one hand, I understand a parental desire to provide for your children and doing what you can to steer them in the right direction. On the other hand, I am also well aware that being over-protecting never makes things better. That approach usually pushes children away, particularly older children. More importantly, is my wisdom to know that entire communities are done a disservice when parents try to keep their children from socializing with anyone outside of their immediately families.
True to form, Mr. and Mrs. Thornton - being the Silent Genners they were - never did anything that couldn't be seen as "respectable." They knew nothing more than "hard work" and as Robert Smith of FamilySearch. org puts it, "a desire to work within the system rather than to change it." I mean. . . we now realize how toxic those ideas can be in a racist, capitalist society. Right?
I could literally write an entire book on how I feel about this book. Don't worry, I won't do that here.
So, Mr. Thornton meets and marries an older, dark-skinned woman. His mother doesn't know and when she finds out doesn't approve. On top of that, his mother treats most people like peon's, family or not. #mommyissues are glaring and I don't remember anything about his father. Later on, when asked about why Mr. Thornton doesn't try and establish closer relationships with his son's in law, he remarks that his parents didn't meddle in his relationship and he won't meddle in his daughters'. However, this is the same man who allowed his Disney movie villain of a mother to psychologically torture his children and his wife.
As for Mr. and Mrs. Thornton's parenting styles I think there was both good and bad. However, I don't like the fact that Mrs. Thornton had to sacrifice her own health over and over again, trying SO hard to birth a male child. I don't know which year men started to realize that it's indeed their own genes that determine a baby's gender, but hopefully, they know now.
His parenting style was giving manipulation, over-protection, projection, and a tinge of narcissism, to say the least. I'm still wondering how many men, specifically black men agree with the whole "independent, don't need a man, superwoman" thing today, that Mr. Thornton raised his girls to be, back then.
Paying that young man to take his daughter to the dance, making the girls do their school work on the road, and having to perform on stage, at any cost. . . IDK. There has to be a balance. Sometimes the money grabbing was a bit much.
Pushing your daughters to be doctors because some idiot guys made fun of the fact that you didn't have boys to raise seems a bit of an egotistic gesture to me. *shrugs
The daughters for the most part, thought very highly of their father and they thought he was so smart. Manipulators are also very smart at reading people and knowing what makes them tick and as much as I would have also liked to think highly of Mr. Thornton, my conscious would only allow those thoughts to go so far.
Again, keeping your children working at a young age and not balancing that out with healthy socialization borders on toxic. Keeping your children overweight to compensate or overcompensate for what you didn't have. . . toxic. Not wanting your children to ever grow up. . . WTF? Not being at all interested in your grandchildren. . . I mean, stop me if I'm wrong.
I think the icing on this sh*tcake, for me was when Mr. Thornton finally got his "son" towards the end of the book. First of all, he made his daughters feel terrible, all over again because their was an obvious sense of favoritism for this young man. Second, he praised and over-indulged the boy in ways that he never did with his girls. It was quite perplexing, actually. Ultimately, the boy let him down and ended up getting his behind kicked (by Mr. Thornton). It was a whole shame.
It was still a good read and not once did I want to disengage.
I'd love to discuss with anyone willing to speak honestly on the topics bought up in this book.
A very interesting story.
March 21, 2023
To get right to the point, I loved this book. It will probably be on my favorite of the year list. What an inspiring, uplifting story of a family working against the odds and predictions made to get all of these ladies educated, leading productive lives, and giving back to their communities.
January 15, 2020
“Always enter a room with your head up. Right away that tells people you're your own person. If your head is down, that lets people feel they can do anything they want with you. When you talk to somebody, white or colored, always look him straight in the eye. First of all, it's honesty. Second, he knows he can beat up on you if you don't make eye contact.”
It is hard to know exactly who the main character of this book is. Thornton says she is telling the story of her whole family. The personality that comes through most strongly is that of her dad. He certainly was a piece of work. I decided to start my review with a quote from Thornton’s mother because without her much of the family’s success would not have happened.
I am going to write more about this book after my book group meets. I have some decided opinions about the Thorntons. Let’s see if others feel the same way.
It is hard to know exactly who the main character of this book is. Thornton says she is telling the story of her whole family. The personality that comes through most strongly is that of her dad. He certainly was a piece of work. I decided to start my review with a quote from Thornton’s mother because without her much of the family’s success would not have happened.
I am going to write more about this book after my book group meets. I have some decided opinions about the Thorntons. Let’s see if others feel the same way.
March 2, 2012
Interesting read about the life of an uneducated, yet overly determined black man, and his dreams for his five daughters. Though I didn't always agree with his parenting strategies, and didn't always agree with the views of the Yvonne (one of the daughters and author of the book), their story is a great tribute to the power of hard work, education and the success that follows. There were so many great one-liners in this book, I wish I'd read with a highlighter. Some favorites... "once you've got something in your brain, it's yours as long as you live," and "if you work hard you'll make it, it's a natural law, like gravity," and "all I owe you kids is three hots and a cot."
June 28, 2010
Inspirational! Exceptional! I had the privilege of hearing this author speak at a recent conference. It is an amazing story of how this woman and her sister's made it from the projects of Long Branch, NJ to medical doctor through the determination of their dad - the ditch digger. It gives me a renewed renewed for physicians particularly many of those that I work with.
I highly recommend this book.
I highly recommend this book.
September 1, 2020
I found this book very inspiring and interesting. I love memoirs, and this one was no different. It gave me a vision into what it is like growing up black and poor. Although I didn’t always agree with the parenting styles, I found it admirable and inspiring to read about the love and hard work that goes into raising a family. I love books that make me think maybe I shouldn’t be complaining so much, haha. This one definitely had that effect. Highly recommend!
February 15, 2010
Loved this book! Father was a hard working man who had his daughters's interest at hand.
June 6, 2012
Not particularly well-written, but what a message.
November 7, 2024
A nice peek into mid-20th century black family life but it was a bit slow. I think this memoir is a very important book for the children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren of the author and her family but otherwise, it's a bit long for the rest of us readers.
November 8, 2012
The Ditchdigger's Daughters was a really great inspirational story! I was entertained, engaged, and motivated to read this book. The story of coming from nothing to elevating past the statistics and failures, which plagued the African American race in the 50's, 60's, and 70's was a wonderful story to read. This book was a page turner for me, and I was so proud of this family's achievements that I caught myself on several occasions swept up in emotions as the family battled circumstance over circumstance.
The story of a man who had 5 daughters, in which every one of them became a professional career woman, said a lot for people during this time. After having been joked and harangued over not being able to produce a son, Donald (father) took on the task of ensuring his daughters were educated and didn't have to rely on other people, namely men, to take care of them.
Donald worked endlessly and tirelessly in pursuit of the American dream. 5 daughters who graduated from high school, avoided pregnancy, went to college, and become doctors. He had these high aspirations of each of them becoming doctors so as to avoid the racism and hatred that was prevalent among their younger days. Donald felt that with them being doctors that people across the world would need them for their knowledge and would not care about their race in time of need. He wanted people to look up to them, and need them for who they are instead of what they looked like.
This book taught valuable old school lessons about people, situations, problems, how to overcome, how to press on, and how to be determined not to fail. I was highly encouraged by reading this book because many of the obstacles that faced this family was overwhelming, but somehow through it all they still succeeded. This book is something that I would encourage any young person to read, and see how to persevere through tough times, and not give up on their goals and dreams.
Even though not all of the daughters became doctors, they all become professional women, who were highly educated and respected in their fields of study.
The way this book was written made me engaged and kept me turning pages. I was so interested to find out the end and how everything turned out that I couldn't put the book down.
However, like many dirt to riches type of books for the African American people, many of the stories are great when they first start out. Many set their sights high, aim, and accomplish such as this family did. Then there comes a time when things hit bottom. Donald, as much as he worked himself to the bone, he ended up a disappointed lonely man after his wife died. He quit his jobs because he didn't want to be ordered around by others and he eventually lost the drive that he had when his daughters were coming up.
2 daughters became doctors, the others were professional career women. This book reminded me of the Jackson 5 and how they were successful when they were young, then went separate ways and somehow became a dysfunctional broken family. The Ditchdigger's Daughters reminded me of something similar. Yvonne, the writer of this book, became so caught up in material things, prestige, titles, power, clout, accomplishments and such that she often seemed superficial and not genuine. I was kind of turned off on how she just demanded things her way, pushed her weight around, and had temper tantrums with her husband. She ended up becoming, in my opinion, an ungrateful, materialistic woman. Although she had stunning accomplishments, she seemed highfaluting and snobbish as she made her way to the top.
Although I was disappointed in the not so happy endings of many of the sisters and family, the book still gave me a great lesson to learn and I thoroughly felt encouraged and motivated to pursue my hopes and dreams.
I would rate this book a 4. I would encourage everyone to read this book, especially young adults.
The story of a man who had 5 daughters, in which every one of them became a professional career woman, said a lot for people during this time. After having been joked and harangued over not being able to produce a son, Donald (father) took on the task of ensuring his daughters were educated and didn't have to rely on other people, namely men, to take care of them.
Donald worked endlessly and tirelessly in pursuit of the American dream. 5 daughters who graduated from high school, avoided pregnancy, went to college, and become doctors. He had these high aspirations of each of them becoming doctors so as to avoid the racism and hatred that was prevalent among their younger days. Donald felt that with them being doctors that people across the world would need them for their knowledge and would not care about their race in time of need. He wanted people to look up to them, and need them for who they are instead of what they looked like.
This book taught valuable old school lessons about people, situations, problems, how to overcome, how to press on, and how to be determined not to fail. I was highly encouraged by reading this book because many of the obstacles that faced this family was overwhelming, but somehow through it all they still succeeded. This book is something that I would encourage any young person to read, and see how to persevere through tough times, and not give up on their goals and dreams.
Even though not all of the daughters became doctors, they all become professional women, who were highly educated and respected in their fields of study.
The way this book was written made me engaged and kept me turning pages. I was so interested to find out the end and how everything turned out that I couldn't put the book down.
However, like many dirt to riches type of books for the African American people, many of the stories are great when they first start out. Many set their sights high, aim, and accomplish such as this family did. Then there comes a time when things hit bottom. Donald, as much as he worked himself to the bone, he ended up a disappointed lonely man after his wife died. He quit his jobs because he didn't want to be ordered around by others and he eventually lost the drive that he had when his daughters were coming up.
2 daughters became doctors, the others were professional career women. This book reminded me of the Jackson 5 and how they were successful when they were young, then went separate ways and somehow became a dysfunctional broken family. The Ditchdigger's Daughters reminded me of something similar. Yvonne, the writer of this book, became so caught up in material things, prestige, titles, power, clout, accomplishments and such that she often seemed superficial and not genuine. I was kind of turned off on how she just demanded things her way, pushed her weight around, and had temper tantrums with her husband. She ended up becoming, in my opinion, an ungrateful, materialistic woman. Although she had stunning accomplishments, she seemed highfaluting and snobbish as she made her way to the top.
Although I was disappointed in the not so happy endings of many of the sisters and family, the book still gave me a great lesson to learn and I thoroughly felt encouraged and motivated to pursue my hopes and dreams.
I would rate this book a 4. I would encourage everyone to read this book, especially young adults.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 23, 2018
This really is an incredible story and Dr. Yvonne Thorton certainly didn’t whitewash things so I am really looking forward to discussing it with my book club. Every member of the family was so interesting:
Donald Thorton
What an amazing worker. I just can’t fathom how anyone can work two full-time jobs plus whatever odd jobs he could find, plus build his own home, plus manage his daughter’s music group. When did he ever sleep? He was also a powerful advocate for his family and a great teacher. You certainly can’t argue the results of all his work but do the ends justify the means? He clearly loved his family but was very, very controlling. I also think his desire to keep his daughters as little girls completely dependent on him created a really unhealthy family dynamic.
Tass Thorton
Her story of having to drop of out of college before her final year was heartbreaking. The idea of the importance education must surely have come from her but then she seemed to have let her husband completely take over the family. She was such a non-entity in the book and to see her succumb to depression and pain and an eventual early death seemed so tragic.
Yvonne Thorton
She too is an amazing worker and clearly an intelligent and powerful woman. Her fight against racism and sexism was very inspiring. Most of her actions were so selfless but then she would include stories that made her come off as so selfish and materialistic (I could have done without the chapter on her wedding). I also had to keep reminding myself that just because her choices about her family were not ones I would make that that didn’t mean they were wrong.
Donald Thorton
What an amazing worker. I just can’t fathom how anyone can work two full-time jobs plus whatever odd jobs he could find, plus build his own home, plus manage his daughter’s music group. When did he ever sleep? He was also a powerful advocate for his family and a great teacher. You certainly can’t argue the results of all his work but do the ends justify the means? He clearly loved his family but was very, very controlling. I also think his desire to keep his daughters as little girls completely dependent on him created a really unhealthy family dynamic.
Tass Thorton
Her story of having to drop of out of college before her final year was heartbreaking. The idea of the importance education must surely have come from her but then she seemed to have let her husband completely take over the family. She was such a non-entity in the book and to see her succumb to depression and pain and an eventual early death seemed so tragic.
Yvonne Thorton
She too is an amazing worker and clearly an intelligent and powerful woman. Her fight against racism and sexism was very inspiring. Most of her actions were so selfless but then she would include stories that made her come off as so selfish and materialistic (I could have done without the chapter on her wedding). I also had to keep reminding myself that just because her choices about her family were not ones I would make that that didn’t mean they were wrong.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2011
after a few pages in i had to grab my highlighter because there were so many little sayings that i didn't want to forget (i.e. "the only time it makes any sense to get pregnant is when you can tell yourself thet if you died the next day, you've already done most everything you wanted to do" p. 42; I owe you three hots and a cot" p. 44; "when what you got goin' inside your head, that's something nobody can take away from you" p. 35; "pick out a rabbit" p. 19; "never ask of a person what you can't give of yourself" p. 57; "you can have two or three husbands but only one mother and father" p. 111; "work hard and you'll make it...It's a natural law, like gravity" p. 258). a fascinating family, a determined father (& mother) and an incredibly, dedicated daughter.
my only complaints (and these are likely me reading way too into things) was at the end she seemed to discredit her father's insistence on his daughters making something of their lives because he couldn't make anything out of his own ("where else but in his own family can a man who is a ditchdigger feel important..?" (p. 256)). her comment about her and her sisters being superior to stereotypical "black american women" who have multiple children also rubbed me the wrong way (p. 255), but otherwise, a really great read.
my only complaints (and these are likely me reading way too into things) was at the end she seemed to discredit her father's insistence on his daughters making something of their lives because he couldn't make anything out of his own ("where else but in his own family can a man who is a ditchdigger feel important..?" (p. 256)). her comment about her and her sisters being superior to stereotypical "black american women" who have multiple children also rubbed me the wrong way (p. 255), but otherwise, a really great read.
April 11, 2012
Part memoir, part biography of her father and mother, The Ditchdigger's Daughters is the true story of a black family and their struggle for success. I read Yvonne Thornton's books backwards. A few months ago I read her second memoir, all about her struggles as a black woman in the medical field. In that book she referenced The Ditchdigger's Daughters, and I knew I should probably read that to get the whole story of how Yvonne became Dr. Thornton. It's an interesting story about two parents, with little to no education, instilled in their five daughters just how important education was and how they could do anything, include becoming doctors. This was Yvonne's father's wish for his five girls. When not studying, the girls performed in a band, The Thornton Sisters, learning how to play instruments and performing all over, including at the Apollo Theater. And their father paid for it all by working two jobs. He wanted to provide for his family and send his girls to college. It's a heartwarming and inspiring story, made all the more amazing because it is true. This book is sort of an ode to Yvonne's father (and mother), thanking him for everything he did for her and her sisters.
January 30, 2012
Absolutely loved this book. Well written with so many anecdotes and inspirational quotes that can apply to my life. Donald Thornton was a special man, blessed with an innate sense of wisdom that came true time and again. Some of my favorites:
*Do it with enthusiasm instead of whining. Nothin's gonna come from whining
*You waste more time dreading. Whatever ever happens, happens. Just go ahead and do it.
*Get the job done.
*Everybody says it can't be done until somebody goes ahead and does it.
*There is such a thing as responsibility, companionability, working together. You have to develop love. You don't even know what the man is when you've only known him a couple of months or a couple of years. He's gotta show his love. He can't just say it.
*Now I was beginning to understand why Mommy and Daddy claimed there was no such thing as easy love. The word is used so often . . . such an overused word. People say love, but what they usually mean is lust.
*Size up the situation first. Try to see to the end of it. If it looks okay to the end of it, take that path. But if there's any problem with it, don't even bother wasting your time.
*Do it with enthusiasm instead of whining. Nothin's gonna come from whining
*You waste more time dreading. Whatever ever happens, happens. Just go ahead and do it.
*Get the job done.
*Everybody says it can't be done until somebody goes ahead and does it.
*There is such a thing as responsibility, companionability, working together. You have to develop love. You don't even know what the man is when you've only known him a couple of months or a couple of years. He's gotta show his love. He can't just say it.
*Now I was beginning to understand why Mommy and Daddy claimed there was no such thing as easy love. The word is used so often . . . such an overused word. People say love, but what they usually mean is lust.
*Size up the situation first. Try to see to the end of it. If it looks okay to the end of it, take that path. But if there's any problem with it, don't even bother wasting your time.
July 16, 2012
I would give the first half of the book four stars and the last half three.
This is the true story of a black couple who didn't have an education beyond high school but saw the value in it and were determined that their 5 daughters were going to be doctors. Their father is strict and controlling, but likable and repeated some of the best edicts I've had the pleasure to read. I fluctuated between liking the parenting style and cringing at some of the ways he wouldn't let his daughters have a social life outside of their family.
I was in awe of their work ethic and their story truly motivated me by helping me realize that I, as a woman, can do anything I set my mind to. I believe as they do, that furthering your education is one of the most important things a woman can do. However, I think that they were motivated by the prestige (and I can't blame them) more than the actual education. Whatever their reasons, they were an amazing family with hard-earned talent and a knack for getting things done.
This is the true story of a black couple who didn't have an education beyond high school but saw the value in it and were determined that their 5 daughters were going to be doctors. Their father is strict and controlling, but likable and repeated some of the best edicts I've had the pleasure to read. I fluctuated between liking the parenting style and cringing at some of the ways he wouldn't let his daughters have a social life outside of their family.
I was in awe of their work ethic and their story truly motivated me by helping me realize that I, as a woman, can do anything I set my mind to. I believe as they do, that furthering your education is one of the most important things a woman can do. However, I think that they were motivated by the prestige (and I can't blame them) more than the actual education. Whatever their reasons, they were an amazing family with hard-earned talent and a knack for getting things done.
September 2, 2019
This book chronicles the lives of the Thornton family, a black family living in a transitional time in US history. It is very interesting and obviously focuses a lot on racial integration and the monumental issues that black people had to face at the time, but it's not preachy or overbearing in the telling. Just the simple facts of life at the time. As a story, therefore, I really enjoyed it.
The reading, however... well, it's not good, let's put it like that.
Not only does the narrator seem to more or less ignore punctuation and normal speaking cadences, but sometimes the editing makes it even worse. This actually detracted quite a bit from the enjoyment of the book, and might have cost it a star.
I think I would recommend this book to those interested in some US black history and biographies, but definitely not on Audio. The Kindle edition isn't perfect by a long shot, but it's certainly better.
The reading, however... well, it's not good, let's put it like that.
Not only does the narrator seem to more or less ignore punctuation and normal speaking cadences, but sometimes the editing makes it even worse. This actually detracted quite a bit from the enjoyment of the book, and might have cost it a star.
I think I would recommend this book to those interested in some US black history and biographies, but definitely not on Audio. The Kindle edition isn't perfect by a long shot, but it's certainly better.
November 13, 2018
This was another (audio) book I just happened upon as I was searching for drive time listening. I appreciate most books that entertain or educate me. This memoir did both. I learned a bit about black family culture that was new to me. I was entertained by the questions it provoked. I will admit that I had some difficulty slugging through the author's description of her wedding and all the preparation leading up to it. It felt a bit like an ego trip for the author to describe such and elaborate wedding. Early in the story I wondered how the father was able to so easily control his children and whether the author would grow to realize the control. She did and was able to frame it as a positive force in her life. I had to wonder though how the story would read if it were written by one of the "rebel" sisters. Would Daddy be given so much grace?
Check out Oprah Winfrey's clip on the Thornton family: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUfZD...
Check out Oprah Winfrey's clip on the Thornton family: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUfZD...
April 22, 2009
I keep going back and forth between 4 and 3 1/2 stars. I loved the first 3/4ths of the story the most. There are many great bits of wisdom from her dad that I want to re-read. I only wished that she could have related the story of her own marriage and having children with the same depth that the rest of the story seemed to have. All of the things that I thought should have been most gratifying in her life, like marriage and motherhood, seemed to be skimmed over and rushed through as she perservered towards her ultimate goal of becoming a doctor. But I guess that's just her life's unique story. She has had to sacrafice a lot to get to where she is (including the time to savor these moments maybe?). It still was a very inspring read.
August 9, 2016
I love to sprinkle a variety of books among my usual fiction...some non-fiction and fiction about other cultures is one of my digressions. I thank my friend Char for rating this book 5 stars and leading me to this black non-fiction fabulous book. I wish I had read this before my daughter was born...there is so much wisdom about parenting and families in this story of a family of girls raised to work hard, have fun together and strive for success. WOW! But even if you have no kids to raise it is an amazing read! I dont like inspirational books but I was still inspired. I dont like religious books and it wasnt religious...unless you consider working hard, being a good person and a good parent and inspiring your family to be religious. I highly recommend this book!
February 4, 2017
Yvonne Thornton herself objected to the subtitle. I was uncertain about the phrasing too. However, I came to learn that the barriers to success were astonishing. This included barriers such as white supremacists, legalized racism, the cost of schooling, and distractions from career goals. Yvonne and her sisters were in a band called the Thornton Sisters in order to earn money for medical school. During that long journey for Yvonne Thornton to become an OBGYN, she describes her father's many different warnings about not letting others pull her down. His most memorable one is his metaphor about crabs in a pot that for no known reason trying to pull individual escaping crabs back in captivity.
August 26, 2013
I loved this story! It was an interesting read about an amazing family. This true story was engaging and kept me turning pages. The father was the heart and soul of this family. I don't know how he could have held down a minimum of two 8-hour jobs while building a house, being a father, and managing/traveling with the family band. He is amazing! What a good example of work ethic. I did find him to be controlling and sometimes almost mean, though. He raised amazing and successful women in his daughters. I wondered in the end how happy they all really were, though. Absolutely worth reading...
July 20, 2015
I suggested this book to a Cleveland Metropolitan School district student that I am mentoring. She had to read "The Pact" for school and I thought this book would resonate more since it's about women.
Figured I should read it to and I'm glad I did. The Thornton family defied expectations for years and ended up with accomplished women. However, be aware there was no sparing of the rod and definitely no spoiling of children.
Tough love ruled the day and it may put off some people to hear the things said and the actions taken by the parents.
Figured I should read it to and I'm glad I did. The Thornton family defied expectations for years and ended up with accomplished women. However, be aware there was no sparing of the rod and definitely no spoiling of children.
Tough love ruled the day and it may put off some people to hear the things said and the actions taken by the parents.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 13, 2015
I would have given this book 4 1/2 stars.
Interesting read about the life of an uneducated, yet overly determined black man, and his dreams for his five daughters. Their story is a great tribute to the power of hard work, education and the success that follows. There were so many great one-liners in this book, I wish I'd read with a highlighter.
What an amazing story. Mr. Thornton taught his girls some great life lessons. Not only did I lean a lot from this book, but it was really entertaining as well.
Interesting read about the life of an uneducated, yet overly determined black man, and his dreams for his five daughters. Their story is a great tribute to the power of hard work, education and the success that follows. There were so many great one-liners in this book, I wish I'd read with a highlighter.
What an amazing story. Mr. Thornton taught his girls some great life lessons. Not only did I lean a lot from this book, but it was really entertaining as well.
March 6, 2013
This is an inspirational book demonstrating the value of perserverance in pursuing one's dream. The story needs to be read through the lens of the times of the 1950's and the lack of civil rights not only for people of color but women as well. Dr. Thorton's father was no helicopter parent. Although at times he could be considered abusive, his goal for his girls was for them all to become doctors. He worked hard to provide opportunities for his daughters. They, in turn, worked equally hard to achieve their goals in becoming professional women.
August 2, 2016
After reading this incredible story of crazy amounts of struggles and obstacles being thrown every which way and then to see someone navigate through it all and then succeed.... Man do I fee like a complete whiny soiled little sh*t. But honestly, puts everything into perspective and makes me want to work that much harder to come out on top because if she can move mountains in here world, I should at least be able to wake up on time to get to work, I mean sheesh. Amazing book and very inspirarrional
April 3, 2008
Heard the author on MPR. An amazing story of her father who had definite goals for his family and worked amazingly hard to accomplish them in spite of the racial prejudice of that period, not much education, and certainly not a model home life in his own childhood.
Not really a guide to best practices in child rearing in my mind but this man's daughters are all very successful and I think happy.
Not really a guide to best practices in child rearing in my mind but this man's daughters are all very successful and I think happy.
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