The Trip To Echo Springs: On Writers And Drinking    by Olivia Laing Order:  USA  Can Picador, 2014 (2013) Hardcover, Softcover, e-Book    Reviewed by Jessica Maguire Olivia Laing tackles a topic that is interesting yet rarely talked about; the link between creativity and alcoholism. To examine this link she explores the lives and careers of six famous authors; Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Williams, Berryman, Cheever, and Carver. Each of the aforementioned writers was an alcoholic. Their alcoholism influenced their finest works, such as A Moveable Feast. The topic of drinking appears in some of their works as well. It is this dichotomy of alcoholism and creativity that motivated Laing to travel across the country to the places these authors worked and called home. Although I cannot say I really enjoyed this book, there are aspects that I did find interesting. Often, these authors drank together ... Fitzgerald and Hemingway enjoyed the Paris cafes in each other's company and Carver and Cheever even made runs to the liquor store together in the Midwest. The author was motivated to write about this subject after growing up in an alcoholic family. Her past is discussed in an interview at the end of the book. Although this story reads like a novel, it is a unique blend of travel writing, biography, and memoir. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Travel books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews