Linea Maja Ernst’s debut novel Waist Deep has been translated into ten languages after a bestselling run in Denmark. The novel follows a group of seven friends from university in their early thirties, meeting at a family cabin in rural Denmark. At university, they shared deep discussions about literature, art, and politics—but in their thirties they’ve settled into different positions in life. Some have found themselves married with children, some in monogamous queer relationships, and others in a sort of delayed adolescence brought on by self discovery.
Over the course of their week together, the group navigates their new positions in life, excavating old desires, new crushes, and finding their positions within the group. The characters navigate ideas of monogamy, non-monogamy, and queer life and belonging. The novel is full of lush descriptions of countryside living, curated and effortful meals, and the kind of intentional but seemingly effortless European summer living that populates Pinterest boards across the world. There’s an underground competitiveness between each of the characters—to prove that they’re the most evolved in their politics and personal lives, the most creative, successful, and happy in their relationship.
The novel moves back and forth between perspectives of each of the characters, who are experiencing different desires: some to stray outside of their relationship, some to settle down, and some to just explore more. The group contemplates the mechanics of living a more communal life, sharing partners, resources, etc. but each have their own opinion about responsibilities, commitment, and ways of living. Their desires and their politics hit up against each other in fascinating ways, as they seek to understand how they went from progressive university students to more settled adults.
In an interview with British Vogue, Ernst explains, “I’ve always been really fascinated with different forms of love, and how it’s possible to live your love life. I think sometimes our categories are very strict; they’re almost digital. It’s one or zero, it’s platonic or romantic, and I don’t find that it works that way in real life. I think we have this range of crushes and romantic friendships and hate crushes and stupid projections that we think are being in love. And I think it is quite possible to love your partner and fall in love with someone else. But, because of this rigid thinking, often you conclude that you have to leave your partner, or you’re not actually in love, but what if we stay in the tension, or in the possibility? It’s a very “What if?” novel.”
The book is a sensuous and thoughtful exploration of monogamy and desire that asks the reader to explore their own personal feelings about these subjects and identify with different characters. The novel blends the political and the personal in fascinating ways to explore how this generation is making their way in the world.