Resisting Roles and Rules

Not unlike the protagonist of Last Tang Standing, Lauren Ho’s first full-fledged novel, the author brushes past the counsel of others to listen to the beat of her own heart

From law to literature, Lauren Ho debuts her first full-fledged novel that will delight fans with her irresistible dose of humour

From law to literature: How did that transition unfold?

I harboured dreams of being a published novelist, but being pragmatic, decided that getting a law degree was safer. I also blame Ally Mcbeal for glamorising a hard life.

Despite the prestige of working for one of Luxembourg’s largest law firms and central bank, I was bored and unhappy. I started writing a novel around that time but had to abandon it due to cascades of work. It was only after I moved to Singapore and returned to the humanitarian sector did I have the breathing space to write again and often.

I had also matured as a person and had more stories to tell, and the discipline to tell them. Being shortlisted in a few international competitions gave me the confidence to pursue my dream of becoming a published novelist. In late 2016, I got the idea for Last Tang Standing and finished the first draft in a year.

Did you pen Last Tang Standing for a young adult Asian audience? Do you believe that a book’s protagonist determines its readership?

I didn’t set out to write the novel for any particular audience, although I’m aware that by virtue of my protagonist’s age and experiences, the book will appeal to those going through the same upheavals in their lives.

It is a well-known fact that approximately 55 per cent of Young Adult readers comprise of adults in the 30 to 44 age band. While there is a tendency to read what you know, it shouldn’t hinder you from exploring different genres—the age of the protagonist should never be a limiting factor that dissuades you from picking up a book you’re interested in.

Rebellion against one’s elders resurfaces time and again in novels, but especially in Asia, where high expectations are a stark reality. Your thoughts?

This could be a thesis on its own. Most of the time people are just trying to stake their claim on something they care about and show the world what that is. That’s how it is for my protagonist, Andrea. Without giving away too much, in the beginning Andrea is mechanically following the blueprint drawn up by her parents for her life. A series of unfortunate events happens before she realises that she has to start developing more agency in her life—or risk never knowing who she is at all.

Would you have been a different writer (or a writer at all) if it weren’t for your colourful life on the road?

I’m very grateful for my multicultural family. We write what we know, so this exposure has broadened the worlds my characters inhabit.

How I write is influenced by the languages I’m surrounded by. When living in Luxembourg, I wrote more forceful, immediate prose, whereas a lazy slinkiness envelops my prose when I summer in France. Words roll off me with a certain musicality when I’m in Malaysia.

* Last Tang Standing is now released nationwide. Visit hellolaurenho.com to know more about the author and the book.