Apple Tree Yard is the 2013 novel by Louise Doughty. This book has received a lot of popularity recently, with the BCC drama of the same name being aired earlier on in the year. The plot focuses upon a character called Yvonne Carmichael who simply happens to find herself in the wrong place at the wrong time – and this leads to a terrible situation. I could go on about the plot of this novel, but I’m afraid this time I will give too much away. What I will say though is this: Yvonne was once happily married and a successful scientist, but finds herself embroiled in an affair, and later in the witness box for the charge of murder.
This is one of my favourite novels at the moment. Although the pivotal moment that leads to the trial is predictable, I can forgive this because of the depth and the layers of the story that Doughty creates. The subject matter of the affair is so ordinary and humane it makes the progression of the plot even more worrying. It is simply the idea of somebody being in the wrong place at the wrong time – and there is nothing more relatable than that.
Throughout Apple Tree Yard, Doughty uses the second person, and it worked brilliantly. Yvonne addresses us, the reader, as though we are her lover throughout the novel. This approach gives us a great sense of her feelings and her reasonings behind some of her actions. This is perfect as it emphasises just how ordinary of a character Yvonne is, so like you and me, that it is not impossible to see that we could make similar decisions.
Another thing I really liked about this novel is that until the trial we only know the lover by the name ‘X’. By removing the identity of the lover, we see, like Yvonne, how much of a fantasy the adulterous relationship is. The name of Yvonne’s lover is revealed during the trial. By doing this I feel Doughty emphasised just how ordinary the lover actually is. Therefore, heightening the idea of the fantasy coming crashing down and revealing the realities. This therefore turned out to be an effective technique that the novel used, as it emphasised the contrast between the Yvonne’s fantasy world and its consequences.
I can honestly say I can’t think of a single thing I did not like about Apple Tree Yard. It was a very realistic novel, with relatable characters and a relatable situation for many. Through this it very effectively demonstrated how one decision or one bad choice can lead to very terrible situations. It is a novel that shows us as readers that our life can lead anywhere, no matter how happy and stable we seem at the current time. Understandably then, I would one hundred percent recommend you read this novel. For the reasons I have outlined, I feel like it would be a novel that most people would enjoy and could relate to in one way or another. I have not yet watched the BBC adaptation as I wanted to read the novel first, though I feel it is unlikely that the drama would match up to Doughty’s writing.
