200,000 Miles aboard the Destroyer Cotten

By: C. Snelling Robinson

Narrated by: James Killavey

In mid-1943, Snelling Robinson joined the crew of the Fletcher class destroyer USS Cotten as a newly commissioned ensign. The Cotten sailed to Pearl Harbor in time to join the Fifth Fleet. Under the command of Admiral Raymond Spruance, the Fifth Fleet participated in the invasions of Tarawa and Iwo Jima and several naval battles in the Philippine Sea and the Leyte Gulf. Robinson writes from the perspective of a young naval officer and integrates this with the background of the larger conflict, including the politics of command.

©2000 The Kent State University Press (P)2014 Redwood Audiobooks

Excellent

What did you love best about 200,000 Miles aboard the Destroyer Cotten?

The sense of Immediacy ... felt like I was there.

What other book might you compare 200,000 Miles aboard the Destroyer Cotten to and why?

The Wrong Stuff, which was about bombers in WW II but was also a very well written first person "You are there" type narrative.

What about James Killavey’s performance did you like?

Read it well without getting over emotional. Kept "in the background" and let the author's words speak for themselves. This is the kind of narration I like. The narrator reads well and intelligently while keeping the focus on the story not on his "performance."

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No way...too long.

Any additional comments?

A very enjoyable and enlightening listening experience.

Distracting, Amateurish Narration

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Not at all! The narration was so annoying that I couldn't enjoy the book. I'll get a copy on Kindle so that I can read what I'm sure is a worthy book.

What didn’t you like about James Killavey’s performance?

While I know that Killavey is an experienced narrator, he sounded rather pompous... his pronunciation of certain words "Boston" for example was annoyingly unusual and he really didn't vary his tone. In short his performance ruined the book for me. BTW this is the first significantly negative review I've written after 14 years with Audible,

Was 200,000 Miles aboard the Destroyer Cotten worth the listening time?

No... not as narrated,

Narrator

It seems to be a good book but the narration is stilted. I hope I can make it to the end. Needs a narrator that can bring it to life, makes you want to listen.

Impressive

This is a memoir of C. Snelling Robinson. In June 1943, Robinson was a twenty year old Harvard graduate (ROTC) and a newly commissioned Ensign. He was assigned to the pre-commissioning crew of the Fletcher class destroyer USS Cotton. The USS Cotton was assigned to the Fifth Fleet under the command of Admiral Raymond Spruance. The Fleet with USS Cotton invaded Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands on November 19, 1943.

The book covers Robinson’s three years aboard the USS Cotton (DD669). The Cotton was in some of the bloodiest battles in the United States Naval history, the forcible amphibious assault landings at Tarawa, Saipan, Iwo Jima and the enormous Fleet engagements in the Philippine Sea and Leyte Gulf.

Robinson describes what life aboard the Cotton was like and the workings of the destroyer and its role in the Fleet. The book is well written but at time bogs down in the details of seamanship and life aboard the destroyer.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in WWII history in the Pacific. James Killavey narrated the book.

One of the best

Would you listen to 200,000 Miles aboard the Destroyer Cotten again? Why?

Yes. My husband is in the Navy and I really enjoy this kind of book..although that was then and this is now....thank goodness!

What was one of the most memorable moments of 200,000 Miles aboard the Destroyer Cotten?

When those enemy suicide planes attacked for the first time.

Have you listened to any of James Killavey’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have. He's very good.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

A bit of both. Laughter especially when the war ended and the occupation began.

Any additional comments?

Just a good overall experience.