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.

Outstanding Book and Recording. Five Stars.

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

Already read the print version once. Now listening to the audio book. The first person narration makes it an even more enjoyable experience and I can be doing other things at the same time.

What did you like best about this story?

The author served aboard the Destroyer USS Cotten in WW 2. (Ship named after a Navy Captain, not the plant ) The Cotten was a Fletcher-class destroyer, built in 1943. It’s purpose was to protect America’s new carriers from Japanese aircraft and submarines. This is a well written and fascinating story of his three years aboard the ship. Robinson and the Cotten survived some of the greatest and bloodiest naval battles in history -- the forcible amphibious assault landings at Tarawa, Saipan, and Iwo Jima, and the enormous fleet engagements in the Philippine Sea and Leyte Gulf. I've read quite a few such books but, in my opinion, this is the best of the lot, written by someone who was actually there. To quote another review of the printed version, “Few authentic veterans have ever done a better job portraying life at sea on a small man-of-war. His narrative is crisp, informative, authoritative.” I heartily agree. I think this book should become required reading for any future naval officer, if it isn't already.

Which scene was your favorite?

There were many of them. The scenes where they were trying to deal with the Kamikaze pilots were especially riveting.

Who was the most memorable character of 200,000 Miles aboard the Destroyer Cotten and why?

The author and, of course the Cotten.

Any additional comments?

I read the print version some time ago and am now in the middle of the audiobook. I am taking a brief pause to write this review. The narrator is doing an excellent job and, thank goodness, is familiar with Navy terminology. Little things like saying “zero-eight hundred” for the time, instead of the Army way of “Oh-eight hundred hours.” Things like this and the correct pronunciation of the many areas the ship visits, is making it obvious the publisher and the narrator took the time to make an excellent print book into an equally excellent audio book. Highly recommended.

One of the Best

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I'm a bit of a World War 2 buff and have read many first person accounts. Some are good. Some are mediocre and some poorly written. This one is good – in fact one of the best I've come across.

What did you like best about this story?

The book is an honest, personal recollection of the way things were during the author’s tour of duty during the latter part of World War 2. It shows both the good and the bad of being aboard such a Destroyer. In addition to the many battle scenes and tactical descriptions, I liked the way Robinson expressed his opinions honestly, the two biggest examples being his obvious contempt for “higher ups” who were quite lauded at the time, in particular Admiral Halsey and General MacArthur. As he saw it, they both seemed more interested in their own glory than efficiently getting the job done and often put soldiers and sailors in danger when it was not necessary. In hindsight, history now seems to back his opinions.Robinson managed to incorporate history, geopolitics, and strategy into his descriptions of fleet-level movements and battles and all this was well balanced with the more individual-level narrative. Something else I liked about the book was that the quality of the writing is quite good, much better than average for this sort of personal memoir.

What does James Killavey bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The narration is quite good. The reader takes a “back seat” and lets the story tell itself. It’s read intelligently but without over dramatization. I like this style of narration but some may not. I suggest you listen to the sample.

Who was the most memorable character of 200,000 Miles aboard the Destroyer Cotten and why?

The author and...the Cotten

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed the section on the post-war occupation, especially the tales about the visits to geisha houses. This may not have been politically correct but it was certainly honest and refreshing. Robinson was a very young man at the time, but his attitude toward his duty and attitude toward the Japanese during the occupation was very mature. All in all a refreshing and honest first person account. Five stars to both the book and the narration.

Well written and well read

Would you consider the audio edition of 200,000 Miles aboard the Destroyer Cotten to be better than the print version?

Better in the sense I would never have had time to sit down and read it.

What did you like best about this story?

Battle details and strategy were fascinating.

Which scene was your favorite?

The occupation of Japan chapter was wonderful. Very different from the rest of the book but a great way to end it.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Author realizing that the Japanese people themselves were great. Problem was with their arrogant leaders.

Any additional comments?

Narrator did an excellent job.

An analytical narrative of a navy tour of duty

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

It took some time to get into this book - it was very difficult for me to listen to the narrator as he read the book. Once I became accustomed to his work, it became a bit easier. However, it's not a book that I would call lively or intriguing. I assumed the book would have exciting excerpts about the action seen in the Pacific. But even those parts are read with very little change from the day-to-day discussion about life on the boat.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Not much....

How did the narrator detract from the book?

His tone didn't always seem in sync with the story.

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

On a scale of 0-100, I would rank it right in the middle. I now have a more detailed picture of life on a ship during WWII, but I think the story could have been told in a much shorter narrative.

Utter dissapointment.

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The Narrator is horrible, almost like he's never read a book before. The story is interrupted a lot by the tech terms of specific fleet numbers and task groups, where could've just said a splinter of so and so's fleet, but he even goes so far as naming the specific admirals, which have no bearing on the story and is a needless distraction. It's like reading an action report, which I'm sure you can find online somewhere. Toward the end when in Japan goes off topic about his sex life and commandeering of pleasure boats, really who cares. I was wanting more about the life of the ship and maybe more interaction with the crew but nope.

Would you recommend 200,000 Miles aboard the Destroyer Cotten to your friends? Why or why not?

No, it's badly written by someone who has no business writing a book, straight laced up-tight yahoo, who obviously puts himself before anyone else. Gets hung up on details that really don't matter in a story.

There was one little glimmer of a good story about cyclones toward the end but that's it...

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of James Killavey?

?
No one can make an action report sound interesting

Did 200,000 Miles aboard the Destroyer Cotten inspire you to do anything?

Not read everything about WW2

Any additional comments?

Had a couple glimmers of hope about saving the story but, action reports and a narrator that doen't have the knack of putting the rite emphasis on the correct words. Fell asleep a number of times, reminded me of a certain high school class where catching up on sleep was most favorable.

Great subject matter

Narrator reading was like watching grass grow. Overall the book and supject matter was very good.

an exceptional story of bravery

I loved this audio book. it's a true account of our war in the Pacific based on a single destroyer. the narrator was superb.