Function call inside mode hook has no effect but manual execution of function from buffer works

Question

I use AucTeX as my latex major mode. I have been trying to setup the minor mode latex-pretty-symbols which is available from melpa. I did:

;; Install from package-list-packages
(require 'latex-pretty-symbols)
(add-hook 'LaTeX-mode-hook
  (lambda () (message "Show that my code ran") (latex-unicode-simplified)))

What's supposed to happen is that font-lock should render \alpha = 1 as α = 1 in a latex buffer.

Unfortunately, this doesn't happen in AucTex. Instead I have to either interactively call latex-unicode-simplified or manually evaluate M-:(latex-unicode-simplified) from the buffer.

Is there a way to programmatically send keystrokes after a mode is loaded? Is there some other way to tell auctex to do what I want ? I have been trying to solve this for 2.5 hours now so any help is welcome.

NB 1: This problem only happens when I use auctex. When I deleted auctex and did (add-hook 'latex-mode-hook 'latex-unicode-simplified) then the problem got resolved. But I can't stop using AucTex.

NB 2: This problem is not resolved through file local variables, I tried to put a % eval: (latex-unicode-simplified) but that did not work

NB 3: The package author is using bitbucket, with issues disabled.

Answer 1

A couple of things:

1. The sharp-quote (#') is used only before functions, not all symbols.
2. For easy debug and addition/removal of functions to hooks, it's better to first define a function and then add that to the hook.
3. Bare lambdas should not be quoted.

(require 'latex-pretty-symbols)

(defun my/LaTeX-mode-stuff ()
  (message "Show that my code ran")
  (latex-unicode-simplified))
(add-hook 'LaTeX-mode-hook #'my/LaTeX-mode-stuff)