Gardens of Stone [Paperback]

Nicholas Proffitt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1987

Vietnam War Story

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Tor Books (April 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812587278
• ISBN-13: 978-0812587272
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #202,097 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great novel on Vietnam, July 3, 2005

By 

M. A. Ramos (Florida USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gardens of Stone (Paperback)

This is a frist rate novel; page turning. A novel about honor and caring. This novel we see a unique side to the army and Vietnam. We see the inner workings of the 3rd US Inf, the Army's Old Guard, which is the unit responsible for Arlington Cemetary and Burial Details. The Nations Premier Honor Guard and the Presidents Own.

This book is for everyone. We will see the enthusiam and innocence of youth in the '60s. Those young men who wanted to go and fight for their country. Worried the war would end before they could get there and help the US win. To the reality the soldier's who had allready been there wake up to, knowing we could not win the war the way it was being waged.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars As usual, much better than the movie, May 21, 2002

By 

scott r. williams (san diego, ca United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gardens of Stone (Paperback)

An excellent novel about the Old Guard of the Army. Mr. Proffitt, as a veteran of the 3rd US Inf., is able to bring you into the "other" world of the Army. The side that has to do with the burials, rather than the killing.

As a veteran of the Old Guard, who was there for the filming of the movie, I was dissapointed that the Army would not let Mr. Coppola keep to Mr. Proffitt's work, but if you both read the novel, and view the movie, I'm sure that you'll understand the reasons.

Anyhow, I digress. Mr. Proffitt's telling of the "other side if the Vietnam War" is without compare. Even though, by his own admission, he does change some facts around.

I would recommend this novel to all the "doves" and "children of doves", as well as anyone interested in the nations Premier Honor Guard.

Scott R. Williams
3d U.S. Inf (TOG)
84-88

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the 5 best novels I've ever read, June 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Gardens of Stone (Paperback)

I've read dozens of novels in my life, some good and some bad. One day I found Gardns of Stone in a bargain box at a local used bookstore. I'd heard of the movie, but never saw it. Having worked near, and traveled through Arlington Nat'l Cemetary, and observed The Old Guard in action many times, I bought it. I literally couldn't put it down.

The drawing of the characters is very believable, and the feelings of the servicemen are authentic, based on my military experiences. Even the passages with Sgt Hazard's girlfriend, as she struggles with her feelings about Hazard, but her resentment of his profession, are ones that military men often face. Even Hazard's ambivalence towards his superiors in particualr, and the Army in general, comes across as genuine.

It's one of the finest books I've ever read, and one that makes you think about your responsibility to others. It's a great read, and everyone I've passed it to has felt the same way.