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Jonas and the Mountain: A Metaphysical Love Story
An eastern mystic, a western psychic, and a broken man who falls in love with them both at a holy, magnetic mountain. More than an unusual love story, Jonas and the Mountain is a quest for the deepest truth, an excursion into the nature of reality.
Jonas has been living a half-life since he lost his marriage, his college teaching position, and his best friend all at once. In his darkest moment, he hears a voice in his head, and strange poems start to come to him. Curious and open to exploration, he joins a friend who is traveling to Mt. Arunachala in South India. There Jonas meets the guru D, who shows him a direct path to enlightenment, and Anamika, an oddly familiar woman who explains the voice and poems and reveals yet another reality of multiple dimensions and partner selves. Jonas seeks to reconcile D’s and Anamika’s philosophies to find what is true with a capital “T,” as he struggles to resolve the pain in his past and the surprising ways it appears in his present.
This is a journey into the heart of it all.
Jonas has been living a half-life since he lost his marriage, his college teaching position, and his best friend all at once. In his darkest moment, he hears a voice in his head, and strange poems start to come to him. Curious and open to exploration, he joins a friend who is traveling to Mt. Arunachala in South India. There Jonas meets the guru D, who shows him a direct path to enlightenment, and Anamika, an oddly familiar woman who explains the voice and poems and reveals yet another reality of multiple dimensions and partner selves. Jonas seeks to reconcile D’s and Anamika’s philosophies to find what is true with a capital “T,” as he struggles to resolve the pain in his past and the surprising ways it appears in his present.
This is a journey into the heart of it all.
221 pages, Paperback
Published October 20, 2021
About the author
Janis Harper
3 books11 followersJanis Harper is a writer, editor, singer-songwriter, actor, and former adjunct English professor turned expressive arts therapist. Her lifelong passions for the arts, metaphysics, spirituality, and philosophy come together in her 2021 philosophical-spiritual novel, "Jonas and the Mountain: A Metaphysical Love Story" (Sacred Stories). Although fictional, she considers it to be the truest work she’s ever written. Janis's writing can be found in literary journals and anthologies, including in two creative nonfiction anthologies that she conceived and edited: "Body Breakdowns: Tales of Illness and Recovery" and "Emails From India: Women Write Home." She has presented her work in Canada, the US, and India, and lives in British Columbia. https://janisharper.ca
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 7, 2024
Cool stuff readers are saying: "Totally loved the Jonas book! Should be required reading for anyone incarnating on Earth!" -- Andy
"Just devoured the whole thing over two days and loved every page! Highly recommended!”-- Valley
"A book to return to again and again." -- Amazon customer
“A captivating and informative work…. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking spiritual knowledge and experiences.”-- Deborah Lloyd, Readers' Favorite
"Not too much surprises me these days, but this book did, in the best possible way. Jonas and the Mountain: A Metaphysical Love Story is one of the most original and compelling books I have read in many years. As the subtitle suggests, this is a story about ideas and the love of ideas – a plunge into the deep pool of questions like “Who Am I?” and “What Is Truth?” But it is also a story about love for a guru, for a mountain, as well as a boy-meets-girl love story. There is a lot going on here. . . . Readers who enjoy lively writing, a well-drawn plot and characters, and a fascinating dance of ideas will find this book entrancing." -- M. Miller, The BC Review, https://thebcreview.ca/2022/08/17/154...
"A poignant tale about self-discovery and spiritual enlightenment, 'Jonas and The Mountain' is an introspective study of the concept of existence that makes you question the nature of reality and your place in this universe. Author Janis Harper provides some deep thoughts based on philosophy and metaphysics that leave a lot to ponder long after you've finished reading the book. ... [It] is one of the most unique books I've read this year. If you're in the mood for some philosophical musings, I highly recommend it." -- Pikasho Deka, Readers' Favorite
And yes, it's a strange creature—it's not really a novel all the way through: part philosophy (nondualism, metaphysics), part autobiography, part self-help/exploration through the expressive arts... and all love story. Or: Have you heard this one? A nondualist and a metaphysical solipsist walk into a bar... What happens next? Well, hey, find out for yourself!
Click on the Preview for a sample!
To listen to me read 10-minute excerpts from "Jonas and the Mountain," have a listen to my podcast:
https://sacredstories.com/category/po...
"Just devoured the whole thing over two days and loved every page! Highly recommended!”-- Valley
"A book to return to again and again." -- Amazon customer
“A captivating and informative work…. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking spiritual knowledge and experiences.”-- Deborah Lloyd, Readers' Favorite
"Not too much surprises me these days, but this book did, in the best possible way. Jonas and the Mountain: A Metaphysical Love Story is one of the most original and compelling books I have read in many years. As the subtitle suggests, this is a story about ideas and the love of ideas – a plunge into the deep pool of questions like “Who Am I?” and “What Is Truth?” But it is also a story about love for a guru, for a mountain, as well as a boy-meets-girl love story. There is a lot going on here. . . . Readers who enjoy lively writing, a well-drawn plot and characters, and a fascinating dance of ideas will find this book entrancing." -- M. Miller, The BC Review, https://thebcreview.ca/2022/08/17/154...
"A poignant tale about self-discovery and spiritual enlightenment, 'Jonas and The Mountain' is an introspective study of the concept of existence that makes you question the nature of reality and your place in this universe. Author Janis Harper provides some deep thoughts based on philosophy and metaphysics that leave a lot to ponder long after you've finished reading the book. ... [It] is one of the most unique books I've read this year. If you're in the mood for some philosophical musings, I highly recommend it." -- Pikasho Deka, Readers' Favorite
And yes, it's a strange creature—it's not really a novel all the way through: part philosophy (nondualism, metaphysics), part autobiography, part self-help/exploration through the expressive arts... and all love story. Or: Have you heard this one? A nondualist and a metaphysical solipsist walk into a bar... What happens next? Well, hey, find out for yourself!
Click on the Preview for a sample!
To listen to me read 10-minute excerpts from "Jonas and the Mountain," have a listen to my podcast:
https://sacredstories.com/category/po...
November 11, 2023
This very unusual book is full of wisdom of all kinds. At first I didn't know what to make of it, a combination of novel and treatise. But as it continued, I found it to be a very interesting journey, outer and inner. A wide variety is on offer: authentic India experience; being vividly and deeply in the midst of mystical experience while traveling; philosophy of several related varieties, including non-duality; and teachings of dharma, often right to the heart of things. In fact, the author presents very good explanations of non-dualism, not an easy subject. An additional theme of the book deals with relationships, involving characters who resonate as real people, with believable flaws, and at the same time sympathetic. I felt myself pulling for each of them. For those interested in India, its spirituality, traveling, and characters on spiritual quests, this book is highly recommended.
November 15, 2021
An excellent read from start to finish, though it never actually finishes. Experiencing Jonas and the Mountain is like entering a completely elevated state of being, one that's adventurous and full of self-discovery and love.
November 22, 2021
Jonas and the Mountain is both a compelling story and a fascinating account of spiritual experience in its various aspects: conceptual, emotional, physical, metaphysical. It left me feeling curious and inspired to find out more about these experiences and ideas....
October 17, 2023
A lovely story that is really a spiritual teaching. There are actually different teachings represented through the characters' voices. Pay attention to the character you identify with most. That may reveal what you truly believe about what it means to be human and be a pointer on the path of your own quest for understanding. And just as the characters learn to accept and embrace one another, so too can different spiritual paths merge. Enjoy the story and explore the meaning of life!
June 8, 2023
Beautiful story, well-written and uplifting! If you liked Redfield’s Celestine you’ll love Harper’s Jonas! 😍❤️✨✨✨
November 15, 2021
Not too much surprises me these days but this book did, in the best possible way. A beautifully written, remarkable tale, Jonas and the Mountain will resonate with people interested in India, philosophy, and big love stories.
July 18, 2022
Westerners bring their broken selves to India to evolve, and there, fall in love with each other. A heterosexual, caucasian “love” story against a rudely simplified metaphysical background, Johas and the Mountain: A Metaphysical Love Story is a sure bet for adults who enjoy pseudo-depth in a young, green, and simplified style. The conventional tries to meet the unconventional and resembles a chunky stew of New Age selectivism and white spiritual appropriation.
The story may be interesting enough for first-time learners of certain meditation practices or metaphysical concepts, but for seasoned meditators, and other thoughtful appreciators of international cultures and spiritual traditions, the narrative is grating and played-out by other tone deaf white authors. Coming to mind quite easily is a la Gilbert’s hippie-pandering novel, starring more white relationship tourism, Eat Pray Love. There’s a palpable whiteness to the evidently limited research and explanation, or selective commitment to these values; it wears on a reader versed in the legible staples floating in the New Age soup used to stylize an otherwise basic story of a straight, Western courtship, whether as a metaphor for some deeper lesson like “self-realization” or not.
Though self-described as a “metaphysical love story,” the text reads less as a romance between a character and liberating life logic. Instead, the book is about human lovers, a basic love story in every way, only featuring New Age concepts loosely and for whatever cultural sparkle can be wrung from such a limited exploration and exoticizing narration. Main characters are, in fact, colonizing presences themselves in the primary setting of India, with one hailing from Vancouver and changing their name from “Anna” to the unduly beautiful Indian name “Anamika,” which is dripping with linguistic and cultural significance belonging to the Indian people and Vedic traditions. Something fishy has been baked into this cake. Supposedly, the story is an ode to authenticity and finding home. Ironically, these white-cast characters are invading a tradition not their own as a backdrop to their mutually Western, and presumably white, hetero-romance.
An acceptable read, though difficult to personally finish, I rate this book 3 of 5 stars for its admirably swift and broad visitation of various New Age spiritual concepts and commendable nods to their roots in world traditions. A nice introduction for readers curious about metaphysical materials or interested in becoming more deeply acquainted through a favorite genre of romance to those themes, Jonas and the Mountain is a nice, tame choice.
Jonas and the Mountain is acceptable for adult readers. Audiences may be most likely to enjoy if they gravitate toward yay-deep conceptual fiction, or even young adult/teen-style romance. Limited profanity and mention of sexual assault and trauma makes this read most appropriate for readers age 18 and older.
The story may be interesting enough for first-time learners of certain meditation practices or metaphysical concepts, but for seasoned meditators, and other thoughtful appreciators of international cultures and spiritual traditions, the narrative is grating and played-out by other tone deaf white authors. Coming to mind quite easily is a la Gilbert’s hippie-pandering novel, starring more white relationship tourism, Eat Pray Love. There’s a palpable whiteness to the evidently limited research and explanation, or selective commitment to these values; it wears on a reader versed in the legible staples floating in the New Age soup used to stylize an otherwise basic story of a straight, Western courtship, whether as a metaphor for some deeper lesson like “self-realization” or not.
Though self-described as a “metaphysical love story,” the text reads less as a romance between a character and liberating life logic. Instead, the book is about human lovers, a basic love story in every way, only featuring New Age concepts loosely and for whatever cultural sparkle can be wrung from such a limited exploration and exoticizing narration. Main characters are, in fact, colonizing presences themselves in the primary setting of India, with one hailing from Vancouver and changing their name from “Anna” to the unduly beautiful Indian name “Anamika,” which is dripping with linguistic and cultural significance belonging to the Indian people and Vedic traditions. Something fishy has been baked into this cake. Supposedly, the story is an ode to authenticity and finding home. Ironically, these white-cast characters are invading a tradition not their own as a backdrop to their mutually Western, and presumably white, hetero-romance.
An acceptable read, though difficult to personally finish, I rate this book 3 of 5 stars for its admirably swift and broad visitation of various New Age spiritual concepts and commendable nods to their roots in world traditions. A nice introduction for readers curious about metaphysical materials or interested in becoming more deeply acquainted through a favorite genre of romance to those themes, Jonas and the Mountain is a nice, tame choice.
Jonas and the Mountain is acceptable for adult readers. Audiences may be most likely to enjoy if they gravitate toward yay-deep conceptual fiction, or even young adult/teen-style romance. Limited profanity and mention of sexual assault and trauma makes this read most appropriate for readers age 18 and older.
June 10, 2024
Nonduality is almost impossible to capture in words, yet this book does it beautifully. Janis Harper's writing is accessible yet elegant and deeply engaging. I couldn't put it down, and every time I had to, I couldn't wait to pick it back up again. For anyone who has ever wondered how "New Age" teachings mesh with traditional Buddhist ones, this book shows that, at the core, there is no difference, just different ways of looking at the teaching. The same prism; different lenses. It makes for a great read even if you're not interested in Buddhism; if you are, it's all the more compelling. I've already read it twice, and no doubt I'll revisit it many more times.
May 3, 2023
I have read Jonas and the Mountain several times and noticed something different each time. Throughout my journey, I have found Karma and ironic similarities to people I meet and reflect on the passages in this book. This book has taught me to realize the people around me are in my life for a reason and as I meet new people and hear conversations it is ironic how reference and awareness creates direction.
November 24, 2023
Author Janis Harper's fine storytelling provides an accessible opening to questions about life we don't make enough time for. Jonas and the Mountain is a book of ideas to be pondered, of love and compassion. It's for readers who have been drawn to India or been curious why others make the trip. It's for readers who are willing to let their tea get cold as their perspective shifts. Reading this book is yoga for the brain -- a shared meditation.
August 1, 2023
This beautifully written and inspiring book will transform your life. You will be left wanting to live the magic Harper so eloquently describes. A must read for anyone looking to reconnect with their own North star- their inner wisdom. Indeed, Harper's poetic words call out like an invitation from the soul to journey back to one's true self. You will not want to put this book down!
November 20, 2021
Engaging story, enjoyable and enlightening. Hope to do the exercises and meditations at the end of the book, very soon.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews