The Dominican-born New Yorker's long-awaited, family saga. It's a dark, entertaining multi-layered tale of the hopes and dreams and tumult of the hugely overweight, hopelessly confused and endearing young New Jerseyite of the title -- his romantic aspirations, confounding bad luck, many neighbors, bewitched family and roots in the Dominican Republic, where he returns by the end of the novel.  (CRB213, $24.95)