BOOK CLUB KIT
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. 2. 3.
4. 5.
What did you think of Last Tang Standing’s diary format? In what ways was it different from a conventional novel, and how did that change your reading experience? Do you keep a diary? If so, how does it help you process the goings-on in your life?
Andrea Tang is clearly someone who is used to having it all. What happens when she discovers she is finally last at something in her family, and what does she decide to do about it? In what ways did you find her a relatable narrator?
After the annual Tang family Chinese New Year gathering, Linda tells Andrea, “You let your family dictate what you should or should not do way too often” [p. 20]. To what extent has Andrea’s life been based on her relatives’ expectations? Do you find this sentiment true at all in any aspects of your own life? How does technology both aid and deter Andrea’s quest to find Mr. Right? What can her experiences tell us about love and dating in the modern age? Throughout the book, Andrea grows fond of her work competitor, Suresh, and concurrently develops a relationship with business tycoon Eric Deng. How are these two relationships different, and did you find yourself rooting for one or the other? What did you think about Andrea’s ultimate romantic choice?
6. 7.
8. 9.
The book takes place among the upper echelons of Singapore society. In what ways do these wealthy families, including the Tangs, feel familiar? In what ways do they feel different? How is marriage portrayed and discussed in the novel, particularly by the older generations? How is that different from the way the younger members of the Tang family view relationships, particularly those who wish to follow untraditional paths? How does Andrea’s parents’ relationship alter her outlook on love and settling down?
Andrea’s friends, especially Linda, are a constant presence in her life and journey to finding The One. What role do they play in helping her juggle the various parts of her life?
What do you think Andrea’s future looks like?
A CONVERSATION WITH
What inspired you to write this book? I don’t think there was an “a-ha” moment for my debut novel, Last Tang Standing, per se, but the idea germinated during a stand-up comedy set I performed, and it just took off. A lot of my novel was inspired by my experiences trying to fit an ideal/“good” Chinese daughter archetype, failing somewhat, and ultimately being OK with that. It was a long, awkward journey full of missteps, and I’m glad I came out of it with my sense of humor intact. There was also this two-year phase of my life in Singapore when I was trying to find myself, and part of that involved trying out stand-up comedy, which led to so many fun bits that went into the book. The rest of the dating app bits were, uh, gleaned from other sources [super-vicariously “clears throat”].
What do you want readers to walk away with after reading the book? First and foremost, I would love if every reader walked away thinking, Wow, that was fun, I haven’t laughed like this since [insert appropriate childhood memory]. Life can be really bleak, and if I can make someone laugh, and in the process, learn to empathize with a character whose cultural and ethnic background differs from theirs, I’m as happy as a clam—especially the kind that doesn’t end up in someone’s clambake.
© Marvin Kho
L AU R E N H O
What are your future projects? I’m working on a couple of projects, including a potential sequel. Just hoping the zombie apocalypse doesn’t happen before those are done. (But if it does—I called it!)
What are your hobbies/interests? I’m a big fan of stand-up comedy. I’m very competitive, so I like learning and mastering random new skills to impress others. Right now, I’ve picked up wine-tasting as a hobby, and I’m really trying to be green-fingered, if only the effing plants would just let me.
What advice would you share with aspiring authors? First: Get your hands on a copy of Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style. Read it. Read it again. Make love while reading it. OK, maybe not while reading it. But read it after you’re done, at very least. Second: Start writing. Pick a topic and just put words down on paper/screen. Join a writer’s group if you like doing it in a group—writing, that is. Don’t take a dump where you eat. Third: Cultivate a thick skin. Do something that scares you (something legal, please), preferably in front of others. LEGAL STUFF ONLY, PLEASE, I MUST EMPHASIZE. The reason you need to cultivate a thick skin is so you can start showing people your writing, which is essentially fragments of your soul. It’s all very personal. And someone, usually a person with an ingrown toenail or some such malady or deficiency in spirit, is bound to not like the stuff you’ve written. So start cultivating that thick, thick skin.
Anything else you would like to share that I’m not asking? I am very fond of boba, single-malt whisky, and Chinese tea.
THE REASON YOU NEED TO CULTIVATE A THICK SKIN IS SO YOU CAN START SHOWING PEOPLE YOUR WRITING, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY
FRAGMENTS OF YOUR SOUL.
COCKTAILS Delicious cocktails from one of Lauren’s favorite Singapore bars,
TH E S EC R ET M ER M A I D
HOMEMADE MULLED WINE Ingredients:
Instructions:
Juice of 1/2 lime Juice of 1/2 lemon Juice of 1/2 orange 100g sugar 2 cinnamon sticks 1 vanilla pod 5 bay leaves 1/2 nutmeg, grated 8 cloves Handful of assorted dried fruits 1 bottle of red wine 2 star anise pods
Combine lime, lemon, and orange juice in a saucepan over medium heat. Add sugar and heat until dissolved. Add cinnamon, vanilla, bay leaves, nutmeg, cloves, dried fruits, and 100ml of red wine. Cook until the mixture thickens slightly, then lower the heat to low. Add star anise and the remainder of the wine. Simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit for 1–2 hours.
MINT MILO Ingredients: 1 bag Moroccan mint tea 40ml vodka 1 tablespoon milo (cocoa mix can be subbed if milo is not easily available) 10ml simple syrup (made with 1 part hot water to 2 parts sugar) 2 dashes chocolate bitters (optional) Mint sprig Instructions: To make mint-infused vodka, put the bag of Morrocan mint tea into a bottle of vodka and let it sit overnight for infusion. Strain the next day. Shake all ingredients with ice and serve over ice! Garnish with a mint sprig.
CHRYSANTHEMUM NEGRONI Ingredients: 20g dried chrysanthemums 40ml gin 20ml Campari 20m sweet vermouth Orange peel Instructions: To make chrysanthemum-infused gin, put the dried chrysanthemum into a bottle of gin and let it sit overnight for infusion. Strain the next day. Mix all ingredients with ice and stir! Garnish with an orange peel. This is a really tasty Negroni with an additional floral note to it. Recipes by: Kelly D’Cruz, bar manager at The Secret Mermaid Photos courtesty of @the.secret.mermaid