A Boy Named Phyllis

A Suburban Memoir

By: Frank DeCaro

Narrated by: Frank DeCaro

What's a boy to do? An only child, a little chubby (and carrying it low). By age six already a regular in the Sears Husky Boys Department. Young Frankie is also gay, and he's trapped in the aluminum-sidinged, lawn-sprinklered, what-exit - wilds of New Jersey suburbia. Imagine Elton John born to an Italian-American Edith and Archie Bunker, and you've got the picture.

A Boy Named Phyllis is Frank DeCaro's witty gem of a memoir about growing up among working-class Italian folk in Little Falls, New Jersey. There are the usual trials and tribulations between little Frankie and his parents, Marian and Frank Sr., but this is no angst-ridden, coming-of-age gay memoir. Frank is funny, and A Boy Names Phyllis is the antidote to such books.

It is the mid-1960s, and the DeCaros have it all: a living room that no one is allowed to live in; a complete collection of cardboard cutout decorations for every holiday; an Entenmann's factory around the corner; and a killer lineup of Friday-night TV - The Brady Bunch, The Partridge Family, Room 222, The Odd Couple, and, if you can stay awake long enough, Love, American Style. There's only one problem: instead of developing a crush on Laurie Partridge, Frankie gets a boner for Keith. He perfects a drop-dead Paul Lynde imitation, and ultimately finds liberation through Elton John and Disco.

©1996 Frank DeCaro (P)2019 Audible, Inc.

frank D is a great narrator

I am a Frank D fan from Sirrus XM days so I was excited to listen to this.
I loved it.
Frank can tell a story like no other.
Thanks for sharing your life story with the world.

Franktastic!

I’ve loved Frank since the Sirius Out Q days and if you loved his show this is the book for you !

Good Listen!

I loved the story. I felt like you were telling my story. so many parts were my life too. Thanks for writing it.

Always better when narrated by the author

I enjoyed this book. It brought me back to my childhood in NJ close to the same area. We are about the same age. Even mentioned buying something at the Valley Fair. I was a kid and the only one I knew about was in Hillsdale (it’s something else now).

Hilariously Performed and Insightful!

this is the best book I have read in a long time. the performance was hilarious, the story was very relatable even if you're not gay, just Italian, and it's told in such a way that it's very colorful and brings each memory to life. I hope there's a sequel and I hope there's a movie made of this book.

Frank DeCaro is wonderful

Frank is genuine and authentic. I'm so glad he told his story as it goes a long way to foster understanding and compassion towards others.

A Fabulous Memoir of Growing Up Gay

I wasn't sure if I'd like this, but figured I'd give it a try. I loved it! The author's narration was awesome. He did a fantastic job and yes, a spot on imitation of Paul Lynde. The energy in his narration added so much to this already well written book. Despite being treated by kids in grade school, he finally found his niche and hasn't looked back. Great Job. Thank you !

Best Bio Ever!

Effortlessly funny and authentic! A time capsule of pop culture as seen from Passaic, New Jersey. Experience the sixties, seventies and eighties with Frank DeCaro’s truly unique perspective on everything from fashion to food in a fabulous gay coming of age memoir.

Everything you hope it is. And more.

If you were a fan of the Frank DeCaro show on Sirius XM, you’ll enjoy every second of this book!

this was great!

What a wonderful and funny book.
I'm going to do something that I've never done after listening to an Audible book ... I going to hear it again!
I sure I've missed some funny and heart-warming moments.