I thought that my previous article dated 25 January 2025 would have been my last article to be published in The VOICE of Saint Lucia. But then there is a saying “never say never”. The truism of it all has now made itself abundantly clear to me.
This article concerns Peter Josie and his literary masterpiece titled THE SHOPPING LIST. If I can correctly recall it was sometime in 2016 that Peter made available to me a copy of his book. Inscribed were the words “To Velon, Enjoy, Peter Josie”. I placed that book in my library of a thousand books and never read it. Why? Perhaps I had too many books lying around.
It was during my recent illness and while browsing among those books that I came across THE SHOPPING LIST, and having an abundance of time on my hands, I decided to read and to acquaint myself with Peter Josie, the writer.
I was amazed, I was flabbergasted by the exquisite composition and structure of this book, and further overwhelmed by its mundane epistemic applicability and sublime spirituality. Reading this book was indeed a delectable and thought-provoking experience which was augmented by the relevance of our perrenial zeitgeist.
This book can be described as an autobiography in the third person, and gives one a profound insight into the depth of character of its author; what one discerns and learns therefrom are the lessons and values of salubrious living. This book is a gem and for nine (9) years I was oblivious of the treasure that lay at my fingertips. And now, due to my illness, I discovered it. A paradoxical prelude of sorts to my seemingly imminent terrestrial demise, and a numinous sublimation of my consciousness.
In my humle opinion, this book should be compulsory reading in every secondary school regardless of religious orientation and should be a fixture in every house with teenagers. It is a “family book”. On reading this book anyone regardless of age and stage in life will derive an element of benefit on one level or other : be it educational, recreational and spiritual. It is a book for all seasons and for all reasons. And that is why THE SHOPPING LIST needs to be re-discovered and promulgated.
It should be on everyone’s Christmas List!