I decided about three months ago to start reading recently published novels based in a modern time period. I have read seven so far and I’m not kidding, every single one has had at least one main character who smokes cigarettes! I’m baffled! Mostly young female protagonists! Maybe I’m ignorant about how prevalent smoking still is but it’s starting to annoy me. Am I crazy for thinking this is weird? Is it just a coincidence that I’ve come across this pattern? I’m starting to think it might also be a lazy way for a writer to set up a character’s internal dialogue. Please let me know if you have also noticed this.
by Upset-Tale-7532