On the one hand, this does give a really good insight into Pinoy culture, as an outsider (Haldane married a Filipina and they lived in the US for a while, then they moved to his wife’s home area of the Philippines). I did find it interesting in that regard. I didn’t realise at first that the age gap between him and his wife was quite so large - he turns 70 in the book, and I think his wife is about half that. Possibly his age explains his comment in one article: “an old Steve Martin comedy called “The Jerk” in which Martin plays a semi-retarded (oops, I mean intellectually disabled) man”.

Aaaand bam, my brain switches off. What a snarky comment for him to make. If you know it’s wrong, then don’t say it. Added to which later on, he refers to his then pregnant wife as “big as a blimp”. Well gee honey, how romantic.

So what might have been a 4* read gets bumped down to 3*.

I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review. Apologies for the delay in providing this.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a collection of short stories and anecdotes that Haldane shares about moving from the US to the Philippines. It's a tricky book rate because the essays feel both honest and meandering and very clearly capture a slice-of-life for the author. However there doesn't seem to be a lot of reflection or narrative happening in this collection. For example Haldane talks about his disdain for "illegals" (which feels like an especially gross choice of words in 2023) while also talking about the challenges he faces with immigration in the Philippines, but recounts his story in a way that to me came across as glib and maybe even funny instead of something meaningful or thoughtful. It felt especially out of place because Haldane also talks about setting up family in the Philippines with Americans, presumably so they can marry and immigrate (one way or the other) like he did.

I can see others enjoying this book as a light peak into the authors life as he chose to leave the US.

"A Tooth in My Popsicle is a series of essays that originally appeared as a weekly column in the leading newspaper on Mindanao island in the Philippines. When journalist David Haldane lost the job he had held for 23 years and the United States sunk into a deep recession, David, his Filipino wife, and their young son moved from the United States to Ivy's birthplace in the Philippines. They had visited Mindanao several times previously and David felt an immediate attachment to the beautiful island and its people.
The essays tell of their adventures and misadventures during the family's first two years in Mindanao. Haldane’s style is almost conversational and very easy to read. He writes about his family, the local people, the way of life in their new country, and the hurdles outsiders must conquer to assimilate to that lifestyle. The essays vary in content from the author’s unexpected emotional reactions to public holiday activities to the surprise at the native Filipino's relaxed attitude to what Haldane viewed as minor emergencies. They fluctuate in emotion from humor to pathos to reverence to love. Life in Mindanao is unconventional and mystifying to someone who lived nearly 70 years in the somewhat structured society of the United States. Haldane, true to his journalistic background, is a wonderful storyteller. "A Tooth in My Popsicle" is an entertaining and informative book, and because of the essay format, easy to pick up and read for short periods. Thank you to NetGalley and Black Rose Writing for this ARC.

A Tooth in My Popsicle is the story of American journalist David Haldane and his family moving from California to his wife's hometown on the idyllic island of Siargao, Northern Mindanao in The Philippines and their further experiences there.
The book is basically a collation of articles written by Haldane for the Mindanao Gold Star Daily so there is a bit of repetition but the nature of the book makes for short but entertaining chapters.
I'd already read the beginnings of David Haldane's relationship with his wife and his initial introduction to her family ,and Siargao, in his excellent previous book "Nazis and Nudists" so as someone who has visited and loves the country I was interested to read about his further adventures in The Philippines and his life as an ex-pat . It's very obvious that Haldane has a deep love of the country and it's people,as most who have visited will have, and this is a great introduction to a fascinating country where quirky is the norm and situations that feel like emergencies to "sophisticated Westerners" are no big deal to locals who just crack on,sort things out then carry on with their business.
This is a quick read but not lightweight,as a professional journalist Haldane is a skilled wordsmith and the book is entertaining, humorous and educational . He perfectly captures the nature and attitudes of the Filipinos he encounters and the way the country is changing as remote beauty spots become commercialised and sprout resorts and tourist facilities, to the dismay of some locals, the profit of others.
An excellent book about a fascinating place and its resilient and rather wonderful people.