diff --git a/bookwyrm/activitypub/__init__.py b/bookwyrm/activitypub/__init__.py
index 852db345c..85245929b 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/activitypub/__init__.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/activitypub/__init__.py
@@ -2,11 +2,11 @@
 import inspect
 import sys
 
-from .base_activity import ActivityEncoder, Image, PublicKey, Signature
+from .base_activity import ActivityEncoder, PublicKey, Signature
 from .base_activity import Link, Mention
 from .base_activity import ActivitySerializerError
 from .base_activity import tag_formatter
-from .base_activity import image_formatter, image_attachments_formatter
+from .image import Image
 from .note import Note, GeneratedNote, Article, Comment, Review, Quotation
 from .note import Tombstone
 from .interaction import Boost, Like
diff --git a/bookwyrm/activitypub/base_activity.py b/bookwyrm/activitypub/base_activity.py
index 54c2baea9..caa4aeb80 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/activitypub/base_activity.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/activitypub/base_activity.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ from json import JSONEncoder
 from uuid import uuid4
 
 from django.core.files.base import ContentFile
+from django.db import transaction
 from django.db.models.fields.related_descriptors \
         import ForwardManyToOneDescriptor, ManyToManyDescriptor, \
         ReverseManyToOneDescriptor
@@ -23,13 +24,6 @@ class ActivityEncoder(JSONEncoder):
         return o.__dict__
 
 
-@dataclass
-class Image:
-    ''' image block '''
-    url: str
-    type: str = 'Image'
-
-
 @dataclass
 class Link():
     ''' for tagging a book in a status '''
@@ -113,14 +107,15 @@ class ActivityObject:
             formatted_value = mapping.model_formatter(value)
             if isinstance(model_field, ForwardManyToOneDescriptor) and \
                     formatted_value:
-                # foreign key remote id reolver
+                # foreign key remote id reolver (work on Edition, for example)
                 fk_model = model_field.field.related_model
                 reference = resolve_foreign_key(fk_model, formatted_value)
                 mapped_fields[mapping.model_key] = reference
             elif isinstance(model_field, ManyToManyDescriptor):
+                # status mentions book/users
                 many_to_many_fields[mapping.model_key] = formatted_value
             elif isinstance(model_field, ReverseManyToOneDescriptor):
-                # attachments on statuses, for example
+                # attachments on Status, for example
                 one_to_many_fields[mapping.model_key] = formatted_value
             elif isinstance(model_field, ImageFileDescriptor):
                 # image fields need custom handling
@@ -128,37 +123,41 @@ class ActivityObject:
             else:
                 mapped_fields[mapping.model_key] = formatted_value
 
-        if instance:
-            # updating an existing model isntance
-            for k, v in mapped_fields.items():
-                setattr(instance, k, v)
-            instance.save()
-        else:
-            # creating a new model instance
-            instance = model.objects.create(**mapped_fields)
-
-        # add many-to-many fields
-        for (model_key, values) in many_to_many_fields.items():
-            getattr(instance, model_key).set(values)
-        instance.save()
-
-        # add images
-        for (model_key, value) in image_fields.items():
-            if not value:
-                continue
-            getattr(instance, model_key).save(*value, save=True)
-
-        # add one to many fields
-        for (model_key, values) in one_to_many_fields.items():
-            items = []
-            for item in values:
-                # the reference id wasn't available at creation time
-                setattr(item, instance.__class__.__name__.lower(), instance)
-                item.save()
-                items.append(item)
-            if items:
-                getattr(instance, model_key).set(items)
+        with transaction.atomic():
+            if instance:
+                # updating an existing model isntance
+                for k, v in mapped_fields.items():
+                    setattr(instance, k, v)
                 instance.save()
+            else:
+                # creating a new model instance
+                instance = model.objects.create(**mapped_fields)
+
+            # add images
+            for (model_key, value) in image_fields.items():
+                formatted_value = image_formatter(value)
+                if not formatted_value:
+                    continue
+                getattr(instance, model_key).save(*formatted_value, save=True)
+
+            for (model_key, values) in many_to_many_fields.items():
+                # mention books, mention users
+                getattr(instance, model_key).set(values)
+
+            # add one to many fields
+            for (model_key, values) in one_to_many_fields.items():
+                if values == MISSING:
+                    continue
+                model_field = getattr(instance, model_key)
+                model = model_field.model
+                for item in values:
+                    item = model.activity_serializer(**item)
+                    field_name = instance.__class__.__name__.lower()
+                    with transaction.atomic():
+                        item = item.to_model(model)
+                        setattr(item, field_name, instance)
+                        item.save()
+
         return instance
 
 
@@ -210,18 +209,18 @@ def tag_formatter(tags, tag_type):
     return items
 
 
-def image_formatter(image_json):
+def image_formatter(image_slug):
     ''' helper function to load images and format them for a model '''
-    if isinstance(image_json, list):
-        try:
-            image_json = image_json[0]
-        except IndexError:
-            return None
-
-    if not image_json or not hasattr(image_json, 'url'):
+    # when it's an inline image (User avatar/icon, Book cover), it's a json
+    # blob, but when it's an attached image, it's just a url
+    if isinstance(image_slug, dict):
+        url = image_slug.get('url')
+    elif isinstance(image_slug, str):
+        url = image_slug
+    else:
+        return None
+    if not url:
         return None
-    url = image_json.get('url')
-
     try:
         response = requests.get(url)
     except ConnectionError:
@@ -232,17 +231,3 @@ def image_formatter(image_json):
     image_name = str(uuid4()) + '.' + url.split('.')[-1]
     image_content = ContentFile(response.content)
     return [image_name, image_content]
-
-
-def image_attachments_formatter(images_json):
-    ''' deserialize a list of images '''
-    attachments = []
-    for image in images_json:
-        caption = image.get('name')
-        attachment = models.Attachment(caption=caption)
-        image_field = image_formatter(image)
-        if not image_field:
-            continue
-        attachment.image.save(*image_field, save=False)
-        attachments.append(attachment)
-    return attachments
diff --git a/bookwyrm/activitypub/book.py b/bookwyrm/activitypub/book.py
index 2bfafba70..02cab2818 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/activitypub/book.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/activitypub/book.py
@@ -2,42 +2,43 @@
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field
 from typing import List
 
-from .base_activity import ActivityObject, Image
+from .base_activity import ActivityObject
+from .image import Image
 
 @dataclass(init=False)
 class Book(ActivityObject):
     ''' serializes an edition or work, abstract '''
-    authors: List[str]
-    first_published_date: str
-    published_date: str
-
     title: str
-    sort_title: str
-    subtitle: str
-    description: str
+    sortTitle: str = ''
+    subtitle: str = ''
+    description: str = ''
     languages: List[str]
-    series: str
-    series_number: str
+    series: str = ''
+    seriesNumber: str = ''
     subjects: List[str]
-    subject_places: List[str]
+    subjectPlaces: List[str]
 
-    openlibrary_key: str
-    librarything_key: str
-    goodreads_key: str
+    authors: List[str]
+    firstPublishedDate: str = ''
+    publishedDate: str = ''
 
-    attachment: List[Image] = field(default_factory=lambda: [])
+    openlibraryKey: str = ''
+    librarythingKey: str = ''
+    goodreadsKey: str = ''
+
+    cover: Image = field(default_factory=lambda: {})
     type: str = 'Book'
 
 
 @dataclass(init=False)
 class Edition(Book):
     ''' Edition instance of a book object '''
-    isbn_10: str
-    isbn_13: str
-    oclc_number: str
+    isbn10: str
+    isbn13: str
+    oclcNumber: str
     asin: str
     pages: str
-    physical_format: str
+    physicalFormat: str
     publishers: List[str]
 
     work: str
diff --git a/bookwyrm/activitypub/image.py b/bookwyrm/activitypub/image.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..569f83c5d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bookwyrm/activitypub/image.py
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+''' an image, nothing fancy '''
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+from .base_activity import ActivityObject
+
+@dataclass(init=False)
+class Image(ActivityObject):
+    ''' image block '''
+    url: str
+    name: str = ''
+    type: str = 'Image'
+    id: str = ''
diff --git a/bookwyrm/activitypub/note.py b/bookwyrm/activitypub/note.py
index 9eab952d3..aeb078dcc 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/activitypub/note.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/activitypub/note.py
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field
 from typing import Dict, List
 
-from .base_activity import ActivityObject, Image, Link
+from .base_activity import ActivityObject, Link
+from .image import Image
 
 @dataclass(init=False)
 class Tombstone(ActivityObject):
diff --git a/bookwyrm/activitypub/person.py b/bookwyrm/activitypub/person.py
index 324d68e32..e7d720ecf 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/activitypub/person.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/activitypub/person.py
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field
 from typing import Dict
 
-from .base_activity import ActivityObject, Image, PublicKey
+from .base_activity import ActivityObject, PublicKey
+from .image import Image
 
 @dataclass(init=False)
 class Person(ActivityObject):
diff --git a/bookwyrm/migrations/0014_auto_20201128_0118.py b/bookwyrm/migrations/0014_auto_20201128_0118.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..babdd7805
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bookwyrm/migrations/0014_auto_20201128_0118.py
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+# Generated by Django 3.0.7 on 2020-11-28 01:18
+
+from django.db import migrations
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+        ('bookwyrm', '0013_book_origin_id'),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.RenameModel(
+            old_name='Attachment',
+            new_name='Image',
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/bookwyrm/migrations/0015_auto_20201128_0349.py b/bookwyrm/migrations/0015_auto_20201128_0349.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..52b155186
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bookwyrm/migrations/0015_auto_20201128_0349.py
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# Generated by Django 3.0.7 on 2020-11-28 03:49
+
+from django.db import migrations, models
+import django.db.models.deletion
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+        ('bookwyrm', '0014_auto_20201128_0118'),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.AlterField(
+            model_name='image',
+            name='status',
+            field=models.ForeignKey(null=True, on_delete=django.db.models.deletion.CASCADE, related_name='attachments', to='bookwyrm.Status'),
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/__init__.py b/bookwyrm/models/__init__.py
index 35a34a257..96006135e 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/__init__.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/__init__.py
@@ -5,15 +5,21 @@ import sys
 from .book import Book, Work, Edition
 from .author import Author
 from .connector import Connector
-from .relationship import UserFollows, UserFollowRequest, UserBlocks
+
 from .shelf import Shelf, ShelfBook
+
 from .status import Status, GeneratedNote, Review, Comment, Quotation
-from .status import Attachment, Favorite, Boost, Notification, ReadThrough, ProgressMode, ProgressUpdate
+from .status import Favorite, Boost, Notification, ReadThrough, ProgressMode, ProgressUpdate
+from .attachment import Image
+
 from .tag import Tag
+
 from .user import User
+from .relationship import UserFollows, UserFollowRequest, UserBlocks
 from .federated_server import FederatedServer
 
 from .import_job import ImportJob, ImportItem
+
 from .site import SiteSettings, SiteInvite, PasswordReset
 
 cls_members = inspect.getmembers(sys.modules[__name__], inspect.isclass)
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/attachment.py b/bookwyrm/models/attachment.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7329e65d6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/attachment.py
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+''' media that is posted in the app '''
+from django.db import models
+
+from bookwyrm import activitypub
+from .base_model import ActivitypubMixin
+from .base_model import ActivityMapping, BookWyrmModel
+
+
+class Attachment(ActivitypubMixin, BookWyrmModel):
+    ''' an image (or, in the future, video etc) associated with a status '''
+    status = models.ForeignKey(
+        'Status',
+        on_delete=models.CASCADE,
+        related_name='attachments',
+        null=True
+    )
+    class Meta:
+        ''' one day we'll have other types of attachments besides images '''
+        abstract = True
+
+    activity_mappings = [
+        ActivityMapping('id', 'remote_id'),
+        ActivityMapping('url', 'image'),
+        ActivityMapping('name', 'caption'),
+    ]
+
+class Image(Attachment):
+    ''' an image attachment '''
+    image = models.ImageField(upload_to='status/', null=True, blank=True)
+    caption = models.TextField(null=True, blank=True)
+
+    activity_serializer = activitypub.Image
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/base_model.py b/bookwyrm/models/base_model.py
index 8c28c8abb..4109a49b9 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/base_model.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/base_model.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ from Crypto.PublicKey import RSA
 from Crypto.Signature import pkcs1_15
 from Crypto.Hash import SHA256
 from django.db import models
+from django.db.models.fields.files import ImageFieldFile
 from django.dispatch import receiver
 
 from bookwyrm import activitypub
@@ -77,16 +78,18 @@ class ActivitypubMixin:
                 value = value.remote_id
             elif isinstance(value, datetime):
                 value = value.isoformat()
+            elif isinstance(value, ImageFieldFile):
+                value = image_formatter(value)
 
             # run the custom formatter function set in the model
-            result = mapping.activity_formatter(value)
+            formatted_value = mapping.activity_formatter(value)
             if mapping.activity_key in fields and \
                     isinstance(fields[mapping.activity_key], list):
                 # there can be two database fields that map to the same AP list
                 # this happens in status tags, which combines user and book tags
-                fields[mapping.activity_key] += result
+                fields[mapping.activity_key] += formatted_value
             else:
-                fields[mapping.activity_key] = result
+                fields[mapping.activity_key] = formatted_value
 
         if pure:
             return self.pure_activity_serializer(
@@ -270,12 +273,10 @@ def tag_formatter(items, name_field, activity_type):
     return tags
 
 
-def image_formatter(image, default_path=None):
+def image_formatter(image):
     ''' convert images into activitypub json '''
     if image and hasattr(image, 'url'):
         url = image.url
-    elif default_path:
-        url = default_path
     else:
         return None
     url = 'https://%s%s' % (DOMAIN, url)
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/book.py b/bookwyrm/models/book.py
index aaf2a259e..236f04492 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/book.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/book.py
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ from bookwyrm.utils.fields import ArrayField
 
 from .base_model import ActivityMapping, BookWyrmModel
 from .base_model import ActivitypubMixin, OrderedCollectionPageMixin
-from .base_model import image_attachments_formatter
 
 class Book(ActivitypubMixin, BookWyrmModel):
     ''' a generic book, which can mean either an edition or a work '''
@@ -61,11 +60,6 @@ class Book(ActivitypubMixin, BookWyrmModel):
         ''' the activitypub serialization should be a list of author ids '''
         return [a.remote_id for a in self.authors.all()]
 
-    @property
-    def ap_parent_work(self):
-        ''' reference the work via local id not remote '''
-        return self.parent_work.remote_id
-
     @property
     def latest_readthrough(self):
         return self.readthrough_set.order_by('-updated_date').first()
@@ -74,40 +68,35 @@ class Book(ActivitypubMixin, BookWyrmModel):
         ActivityMapping('id', 'remote_id'),
 
         ActivityMapping('authors', 'ap_authors'),
-        ActivityMapping('first_published_date', 'first_published_date'),
-        ActivityMapping('published_date', 'published_date'),
+        ActivityMapping('firstPublishedDate', 'firstpublished_date'),
+        ActivityMapping('publishedDate', 'published_date'),
 
         ActivityMapping('title', 'title'),
-        ActivityMapping('sort_title', 'sort_title'),
+        ActivityMapping('sortTitle', 'sort_title'),
         ActivityMapping('subtitle', 'subtitle'),
         ActivityMapping('description', 'description'),
         ActivityMapping('languages', 'languages'),
         ActivityMapping('series', 'series'),
-        ActivityMapping('series_number', 'series_number'),
+        ActivityMapping('seriesNumber', 'series_number'),
         ActivityMapping('subjects', 'subjects'),
-        ActivityMapping('subject_places', 'subject_places'),
+        ActivityMapping('subjectPlaces', 'subject_places'),
 
-        ActivityMapping('openlibrary_key', 'openlibrary_key'),
-        ActivityMapping('librarything_key', 'librarything_key'),
-        ActivityMapping('goodreads_key', 'goodreads_key'),
+        ActivityMapping('openlibraryKey', 'openlibrary_key'),
+        ActivityMapping('librarythingKey', 'librarything_key'),
+        ActivityMapping('goodreadsKey', 'goodreads_key'),
 
-        ActivityMapping('work', 'ap_parent_work'),
-        ActivityMapping('isbn_10', 'isbn_10'),
-        ActivityMapping('isbn_13', 'isbn_13'),
-        ActivityMapping('oclc_number', 'oclc_number'),
+        ActivityMapping('work', 'parent_work'),
+        ActivityMapping('isbn10', 'isbn_10'),
+        ActivityMapping('isbn13', 'isbn_13'),
+        ActivityMapping('oclcNumber', 'oclc_number'),
         ActivityMapping('asin', 'asin'),
         ActivityMapping('pages', 'pages'),
-        ActivityMapping('physical_format', 'physical_format'),
+        ActivityMapping('physicalFormat', 'physical_format'),
         ActivityMapping('publishers', 'publishers'),
 
         ActivityMapping('lccn', 'lccn'),
         ActivityMapping('editions', 'editions_path'),
-        ActivityMapping(
-            'attachment', 'cover',
-            # this expects an iterable and the field is just an image
-            lambda x: image_attachments_formatter([x]),
-            activitypub.image_formatter
-        ),
+        ActivityMapping('cover', 'cover'),
     ]
 
     def save(self, *args, **kwargs):
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/status.py b/bookwyrm/models/status.py
index 2a9a4be14..5e9ccdac4 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/status.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/status.py
@@ -90,7 +90,6 @@ class Status(OrderedCollectionPageMixin, BookWyrmModel):
         ActivityMapping(
             'attachment', 'attachments',
             lambda x: image_attachments_formatter(x.all()),
-            activitypub.image_attachments_formatter
         )
     ]
 
@@ -151,17 +150,6 @@ class Status(OrderedCollectionPageMixin, BookWyrmModel):
         return super().save(*args, **kwargs)
 
 
-class Attachment(BookWyrmModel):
-    ''' an image (or, in the future, video etc) associated with a status '''
-    status = models.ForeignKey(
-        'Status',
-        on_delete=models.CASCADE,
-        related_name='attachments'
-    )
-    image = models.ImageField(upload_to='status/', null=True, blank=True)
-    caption = models.TextField(null=True, blank=True)
-
-
 class GeneratedNote(Status):
     ''' these are app-generated messages about user activity '''
     @property
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/user.py b/bookwyrm/models/user.py
index b38a4b192..4d511d561 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/user.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/user.py
@@ -112,11 +112,7 @@ class User(OrderedCollectionPageMixin, AbstractUser):
             activity_formatter=lambda x: {'sharedInbox': x},
             model_formatter=lambda x: x.get('sharedInbox')
         ),
-        ActivityMapping(
-            'icon', 'avatar',
-            lambda x: image_formatter(x, '/static/images/default_avi.jpg'),
-            activitypub.image_formatter
-        ),
+        ActivityMapping('icon', 'avatar'),
         ActivityMapping(
             'manuallyApprovesFollowers',
             'manually_approves_followers'
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/book.html b/bookwyrm/templates/book.html
index aeafaafb7..ec48d2e5e 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/book.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/book.html
@@ -57,6 +57,35 @@
 
                 {% include 'snippets/trimmed_text.html' with full=book|book_description %}
 
+                {% if request.user.is_authenticated and perms.bookwyrm.edit_book and not book|book_description %}
+                <div>
+                    <input class="toggle-control" type="radio" name="add-description" id="hide-description" checked>
+                    <div class="toggle-content hidden">
+                        <label class="button" for="add-description" tabindex="0" role="button">Add description</label>
+                    </div>
+                </div>
+
+                <div>
+                    <input class="toggle-control" type="radio" name="add-description" id="add-description">
+                    <div class="toggle-content hidden">
+                        <div class="box">
+                            <form name="add-description" method="POST" action="/add-description/{{ book.id }}">
+                                {% csrf_token %}
+                                <p class="fields is-grouped">
+                                    <label class="label"for="id_description">Description:</label>
+                                    <textarea name="description" cols="None" rows="None" class="textarea" id="id_description"></textarea>
+                                </p>
+                                <div class="field">
+                                    <button class="button is-primary" type="submit">Save</button>
+                                    <label class="button" for="hide-description" tabindex="0" role="button">Cancel</label>
+                                </div>
+                            </form>
+                        </div>
+                    </div>
+                </div>
+                {% endif %}
+
+
                 {% if book.parent_work.edition_set.count > 1 %}
                 <p><a href="/book/{{ book.parent_work.id }}/editions">{{ book.parent_work.edition_set.count }} editions</a></p>
                 {% endif %}
@@ -162,7 +191,7 @@
                             </div>
                             <div class="field is-grouped">
                                 <button class="button is-primary" type="submit">Save</button>
-                                <label class="button" for="show-readthrough-{{ readthrough.id }}">Cancel</label>
+                                <label class="button" for="show-readthrough-{{ readthrough.id }}" role="button" tabindex="0">Cancel</label>
                             </div>
                         </form>
                     </div>
@@ -185,7 +214,7 @@
 				<button class="button is-danger is-light" type="submit">
 				    Delete
 				</button>
-				<label for="delete-readthrough-{{ readthrough.id }}" class="button">Cancel</button>
+				<label for="delete-readthrough-{{ readthrough.id }}" class="button" role="button" tabindex="0">Cancel</button>
 			    </form>
                         </footer>
                     </div>
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/data/ap_quotation.json b/bookwyrm/tests/data/ap_quotation.json
index 089bc85fd..36a4112be 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/data/ap_quotation.json
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/data/ap_quotation.json
@@ -13,14 +13,6 @@
     "sensitive": false,
     "content": "commentary",
     "type": "Quotation",
-    "attachment": [
-        {
-            "type": "Document",
-            "mediaType": "image//images/covers/2b4e4712-5a4d-4ac1-9df4-634cc9c7aff3jpg",
-            "url": "https://example.com/images/covers/2b4e4712-5a4d-4ac1-9df4-634cc9c7aff3jpg",
-            "name": "Cover of \"This Is How You Lose the Time War\""
-        }
-    ],
     "replies": {
         "id": "https://example.com/user/mouse/quotation/13/replies",
         "type": "Collection",
diff --git a/bookwyrm/urls.py b/bookwyrm/urls.py
index 1b81c601f..3b3c1ab52 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/urls.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/urls.py
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ urlpatterns = [
     re_path(r'^resolve-book/?', actions.resolve_book),
     re_path(r'^edit-book/(?P<book_id>\d+)/?', actions.edit_book),
     re_path(r'^upload-cover/(?P<book_id>\d+)/?', actions.upload_cover),
+    re_path(r'^add-description/(?P<book_id>\d+)/?', actions.add_description),
 
     re_path(r'^edit-readthrough/?', actions.edit_readthrough),
     re_path(r'^delete-readthrough/?', actions.delete_readthrough),
diff --git a/bookwyrm/view_actions.py b/bookwyrm/view_actions.py
index f794df5ad..3f3930888 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/view_actions.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/view_actions.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ from django.http import HttpResponseBadRequest, HttpResponseNotFound
 from django.shortcuts import get_object_or_404, redirect
 from django.template.response import TemplateResponse
 from django.utils import timezone
+from django.views.decorators.http import require_GET, require_POST
 
 from bookwyrm import books_manager
 from bookwyrm import forms, models, outgoing
@@ -23,11 +24,9 @@ from bookwyrm.settings import DOMAIN
 from bookwyrm.views import get_user_from_username
 
 
+@require_POST
 def user_login(request):
     ''' authenticate user login '''
-    if request.method == 'GET':
-        return redirect('/login')
-
     login_form = forms.LoginForm(request.POST)
 
     username = login_form.data['username']
@@ -50,11 +49,9 @@ def user_login(request):
     return TemplateResponse(request, 'login.html', data)
 
 
+@require_POST
 def register(request):
     ''' join the server '''
-    if request.method == 'GET':
-        return redirect('/login')
-
     if not models.SiteSettings.get().allow_registration:
         invite_code = request.POST.get('invite_code')
 
@@ -97,12 +94,14 @@ def register(request):
 
 
 @login_required
+@require_GET
 def user_logout(request):
     ''' done with this place! outa here! '''
     logout(request)
     return redirect('/')
 
 
+@require_POST
 def password_reset_request(request):
     ''' create a password reset token '''
     email = request.POST.get('email')
@@ -121,6 +120,7 @@ def password_reset_request(request):
     return TemplateResponse(request, 'password_reset_request.html', data)
 
 
+@require_POST
 def password_reset(request):
     ''' allow a user to change their password through an emailed token '''
     try:
@@ -148,6 +148,7 @@ def password_reset(request):
 
 
 @login_required
+@require_POST
 def password_change(request):
     ''' allow a user to change their password '''
     new_password = request.POST.get('password')
@@ -163,11 +164,9 @@ def password_change(request):
 
 
 @login_required
+@require_POST
 def edit_profile(request):
     ''' les get fancy with images '''
-    if not request.method == 'POST':
-        return redirect('/user/%s' % request.user.localname)
-
     form = forms.EditUserForm(request.POST, request.FILES)
     if not form.is_valid():
         data = {
@@ -226,11 +225,9 @@ def resolve_book(request):
 
 @login_required
 @permission_required('bookwyrm.edit_book', raise_exception=True)
+@require_POST
 def edit_book(request, book_id):
     ''' edit a book cool '''
-    if not request.method == 'POST':
-        return redirect('/book/%s' % book_id)
-
     book = get_object_or_404(models.Edition, id=book_id)
 
     form = forms.EditionForm(request.POST, request.FILES, instance=book)
@@ -248,16 +245,14 @@ def edit_book(request, book_id):
 
 
 @login_required
+@require_POST
 def upload_cover(request, book_id):
     ''' upload a new cover '''
-    if not request.method == 'POST':
-        return redirect('/book/%s' % request.user.localname)
-
     book = get_object_or_404(models.Edition, id=book_id)
 
     form = forms.CoverForm(request.POST, request.FILES, instance=book)
     if not form.is_valid():
-        return redirect(request.headers.get('Referer', '/'))
+        return redirect('/book/%d' % book.id)
 
     book.cover = form.files['cover']
     book.sync_cover = False
@@ -268,6 +263,26 @@ def upload_cover(request, book_id):
 
 
 @login_required
+@require_POST
+@permission_required('bookwyrm.edit_book', raise_exception=True)
+def add_description(request, book_id):
+    ''' upload a new cover '''
+    if not request.method == 'POST':
+        return redirect('/')
+
+    book = get_object_or_404(models.Edition, id=book_id)
+
+    description = request.POST.get('description')
+
+    book.description = description
+    book.save()
+
+    outgoing.handle_update_book(request.user, book)
+    return redirect('/book/%s' % book.id)
+
+
+@login_required
+@require_POST
 def create_shelf(request):
     ''' user generated shelves '''
     form = forms.ShelfForm(request.POST)
@@ -280,6 +295,7 @@ def create_shelf(request):
 
 
 @login_required
+@require_POST
 def edit_shelf(request, shelf_id):
     ''' user generated shelves '''
     shelf = get_object_or_404(models.Shelf, id=shelf_id)
@@ -295,6 +311,7 @@ def edit_shelf(request, shelf_id):
 
 
 @login_required
+@require_POST
 def delete_shelf(request, shelf_id):
     ''' user generated shelves '''
     shelf = get_object_or_404(models.Shelf, id=shelf_id)
@@ -306,6 +323,7 @@ def delete_shelf(request, shelf_id):
 
 
 @login_required
+@require_POST
 def shelve(request):
     ''' put a  on a user's shelf '''
     book = books_manager.get_edition(request.POST['book'])
@@ -340,6 +358,7 @@ def shelve(request):
 
 
 @login_required
+@require_POST
 def unshelve(request):
     ''' put a  on a user's shelf '''
     book = models.Edition.objects.get(id=request.POST['book'])
@@ -350,6 +369,7 @@ def unshelve(request):
 
 
 @login_required
+@require_POST
 def start_reading(request, book_id):
     ''' begin reading a book '''
     book = books_manager.get_edition(book_id)
@@ -388,6 +408,7 @@ def start_reading(request, book_id):
 
 
 @login_required
+@require_POST
 def finish_reading(request, book_id):
     ''' a user completed a book, yay '''
     book = books_manager.get_edition(book_id)
@@ -423,6 +444,7 @@ def finish_reading(request, book_id):
 
 
 @login_required
+@require_POST
 def edit_readthrough(request):
     ''' can't use the form because the dates are too finnicky '''
     readthrough = update_readthrough(request, create=False)
@@ -442,6 +464,7 @@ def edit_readthrough(request):
 
 
 @login_required
+@require_POST
 def delete_readthrough(request):
     ''' remove a readthrough '''
     readthrough = get_object_or_404(
@@ -456,6 +479,7 @@ def delete_readthrough(request):
 
 
 @login_required
+@require_POST
 def rate(request):
     ''' just a star rating for a book '''
     form = forms.RatingForm(request.POST)
@@ -463,6 +487,7 @@ def rate(request):
 
 
 @login_required
+@require_POST
 def review(request):
     ''' create a book review '''
     form = forms.ReviewForm(request.POST)
@@ -470,6 +495,7 @@ def review(request):
 
 
 @login_required
+@require_POST
 def quotate(request):
     ''' create a book quotation '''
     form = forms.QuotationForm(request.POST)
@@ -477,6 +503,7 @@ def quotate(request):
 
 
 @login_required
+@require_POST
 def comment(request):
     ''' create a book comment '''
     form = forms.CommentForm(request.POST)
@@ -484,6 +511,7 @@ def comment(request):
 
 
 @login_required
+@require_POST
 def reply(request):
     ''' respond to a book review '''
     form = forms.ReplyForm(request.POST)
@@ -500,6 +528,7 @@ def handle_status(request, form):
 
 
 @login_required
+@require_POST
 def tag(request):
     ''' tag a book '''
     # I'm not using a form here because sometimes "name" is sent as a hidden
@@ -519,6 +548,7 @@ def tag(request):
 
 
 @login_required
+@require_POST
 def untag(request):
     ''' untag a book '''
     name = request.POST.get('name')
@@ -529,6 +559,7 @@ def untag(request):
 
 
 @login_required
+@require_POST
 def favorite(request, status_id):
     ''' like a status '''
     status = models.Status.objects.get(id=status_id)
@@ -537,6 +568,7 @@ def favorite(request, status_id):
 
 
 @login_required
+@require_POST
 def unfavorite(request, status_id):
     ''' like a status '''
     status = models.Status.objects.get(id=status_id)
@@ -545,6 +577,7 @@ def unfavorite(request, status_id):
 
 
 @login_required
+@require_POST
 def boost(request, status_id):
     ''' boost a status '''
     status = models.Status.objects.get(id=status_id)
@@ -553,6 +586,7 @@ def boost(request, status_id):
 
 
 @login_required
+@require_POST
 def unboost(request, status_id):
     ''' boost a status '''
     status = models.Status.objects.get(id=status_id)
@@ -561,6 +595,7 @@ def unboost(request, status_id):
 
 
 @login_required
+@require_POST
 def delete_status(request, status_id):
     ''' delete and tombstone a status '''
     status = get_object_or_404(models.Status, id=status_id)
@@ -575,6 +610,7 @@ def delete_status(request, status_id):
 
 
 @login_required
+@require_POST
 def follow(request):
     ''' follow another user, here or abroad '''
     username = request.POST['user']
@@ -590,6 +626,7 @@ def follow(request):
 
 
 @login_required
+@require_POST
 def unfollow(request):
     ''' unfollow a user '''
     username = request.POST['user']
@@ -612,6 +649,7 @@ def clear_notifications(request):
 
 
 @login_required
+@require_POST
 def accept_follow_request(request):
     ''' a user accepts a follow request '''
     username = request.POST['user']
@@ -635,6 +673,7 @@ def accept_follow_request(request):
 
 
 @login_required
+@require_POST
 def delete_follow_request(request):
     ''' a user rejects a follow request '''
     username = request.POST['user']
@@ -656,6 +695,7 @@ def delete_follow_request(request):
 
 
 @login_required
+@require_POST
 def import_data(request):
     ''' ingest a goodreads csv '''
     form = forms.ImportForm(request.POST, request.FILES)
@@ -679,6 +719,7 @@ def import_data(request):
 
 
 @login_required
+@require_POST
 def retry_import(request):
     ''' ingest a goodreads csv '''
     job = get_object_or_404(models.ImportJob, id=request.POST.get('import_job'))
@@ -696,6 +737,7 @@ def retry_import(request):
 
 
 @login_required
+@require_POST
 @permission_required('bookwyrm.create_invites', raise_exception=True)
 def create_invite(request):
     ''' creates a user invite database entry '''
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views.py b/bookwyrm/views.py
index 0d05e12ca..653c45d39 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ from django.core.exceptions import PermissionDenied
 from django.shortcuts import get_object_or_404, redirect
 from django.template.response import TemplateResponse
 from django.views.decorators.csrf import csrf_exempt
+from django.views.decorators.http import require_GET
 
 from bookwyrm import outgoing
 from bookwyrm.activitypub import ActivityEncoder
@@ -47,12 +48,14 @@ def not_found_page(request, _):
 
 
 @login_required
+@require_GET
 def home(request):
     ''' this is the same as the feed on the home tab '''
     return home_tab(request, 'home')
 
 
 @login_required
+@require_GET
 def home_tab(request, tab):
     ''' user's homepage with activity feed '''
     try:
@@ -160,6 +163,7 @@ def get_activity_feed(user, filter_level, model=models.Status):
     return activities
 
 
+@require_GET
 def search(request):
     ''' that search bar up top '''
     query = request.GET.get('q')
@@ -191,6 +195,7 @@ def search(request):
 
 
 @login_required
+@require_GET
 def import_page(request):
     ''' import history from goodreads '''
     return TemplateResponse(request, 'import.html', {
@@ -203,6 +208,7 @@ def import_page(request):
 
 
 @login_required
+@require_GET
 def import_status(request, job_id):
     ''' status of an import job '''
     job = models.ImportJob.objects.get(id=job_id)
@@ -221,6 +227,7 @@ def import_status(request, job_id):
     })
 
 
+@require_GET
 def login_page(request):
     ''' authentication '''
     if request.user.is_authenticated:
@@ -235,6 +242,7 @@ def login_page(request):
     return TemplateResponse(request, 'login.html', data)
 
 
+@require_GET
 def about_page(request):
     ''' more information about the instance '''
     data = {
@@ -244,6 +252,7 @@ def about_page(request):
     return TemplateResponse(request, 'about.html', data)
 
 
+@require_GET
 def password_reset_request(request):
     ''' invite management page '''
     return TemplateResponse(
@@ -253,6 +262,7 @@ def password_reset_request(request):
     )
 
 
+@require_GET
 def password_reset(request, code):
     ''' endpoint for sending invites '''
     if request.user.is_authenticated:
@@ -271,6 +281,7 @@ def password_reset(request, code):
     )
 
 
+@require_GET
 def invite_page(request, code):
     ''' endpoint for sending invites '''
     if request.user.is_authenticated:
@@ -293,6 +304,7 @@ def invite_page(request, code):
 
 @login_required
 @permission_required('bookwyrm.create_invites', raise_exception=True)
+@require_GET
 def manage_invites(request):
     ''' invite management page '''
     data = {
@@ -304,6 +316,7 @@ def manage_invites(request):
 
 
 @login_required
+@require_GET
 def notifications_page(request):
     ''' list notitications '''
     notifications = request.user.notification_set.all() \
@@ -319,6 +332,7 @@ def notifications_page(request):
 
 
 @csrf_exempt
+@require_GET
 def user_page(request, username):
     ''' profile page for a user '''
     try:
@@ -387,11 +401,9 @@ def user_page(request, username):
 
 
 @csrf_exempt
+@require_GET
 def followers_page(request, username):
     ''' list of followers '''
-    if request.method != 'GET':
-        return HttpResponseBadRequest()
-
     try:
         user = get_user_from_username(username)
     except models.User.DoesNotExist:
@@ -410,11 +422,9 @@ def followers_page(request, username):
 
 
 @csrf_exempt
+@require_GET
 def following_page(request, username):
     ''' list of followers '''
-    if request.method != 'GET':
-        return HttpResponseBadRequest()
-
     try:
         user = get_user_from_username(username)
     except models.User.DoesNotExist:
@@ -433,11 +443,9 @@ def following_page(request, username):
 
 
 @csrf_exempt
+@require_GET
 def status_page(request, username, status_id):
     ''' display a particular status (and replies, etc) '''
-    if request.method != 'GET':
-        return HttpResponseBadRequest()
-
     try:
         user = get_user_from_username(username)
         status = models.Status.objects.select_subclasses().get(id=status_id)
@@ -476,11 +484,9 @@ def status_visible_to_user(viewer, status):
 
 
 @csrf_exempt
+@require_GET
 def replies_page(request, username, status_id):
     ''' ordered collection of replies to a status '''
-    if request.method != 'GET':
-        return HttpResponseBadRequest()
-
     if not is_api_request(request):
         return status_page(request, username, status_id)
 
@@ -495,6 +501,7 @@ def replies_page(request, username, status_id):
 
 
 @login_required
+@require_GET
 def edit_profile_page(request):
     ''' profile page for a user '''
     user = request.user
@@ -508,6 +515,7 @@ def edit_profile_page(request):
     return TemplateResponse(request, 'edit_user.html', data)
 
 
+@require_GET
 def book_page(request, book_id):
     ''' info about a book '''
     try:
@@ -600,6 +608,7 @@ def book_page(request, book_id):
 
 @login_required
 @permission_required('bookwyrm.edit_book', raise_exception=True)
+@require_GET
 def edit_book_page(request, book_id):
     ''' info about a book '''
     book = books_manager.get_edition(book_id)
@@ -613,6 +622,7 @@ def edit_book_page(request, book_id):
     return TemplateResponse(request, 'edit_book.html', data)
 
 
+@require_GET
 def editions_page(request, book_id):
     ''' list of editions of a book '''
     work = get_object_or_404(models.Work, id=book_id)
@@ -632,6 +642,7 @@ def editions_page(request, book_id):
     return TemplateResponse(request, 'editions.html', data)
 
 
+@require_GET
 def author_page(request, author_id):
     ''' landing page for an author '''
     author = get_object_or_404(models.Author, id=author_id)
@@ -648,6 +659,7 @@ def author_page(request, author_id):
     return TemplateResponse(request, 'author.html', data)
 
 
+@require_GET
 def tag_page(request, tag_id):
     ''' books related to a tag '''
     tag_obj = models.Tag.objects.filter(identifier=tag_id).first()
@@ -668,11 +680,13 @@ def tag_page(request, tag_id):
 
 
 @csrf_exempt
+@require_GET
 def user_shelves_page(request, username):
     ''' list of followers '''
     return shelf_page(request, username, None)
 
 
+@require_GET
 def shelf_page(request, username, shelf_identifier):
     ''' display a shelf '''
     try: