Just finished rereading The Year of the Woman by Jonathan Gash It gives an unsentimental, un-romanticized view of what it's like to be a poor girl in Hong Kong while also being suspenseful and exciting. Oh, yes, and just a dash of the supernatural--but not your average supernatural dash!
This author generally produces mental popcorn; it's fun while you're reading it, but there's not much substance. This book, though, is excellent.