diff --git a/fedireads/migrations/0001_initial.py b/fedireads/migrations/0001_initial.py
index f647d8866..fcc00f97b 100644
--- a/fedireads/migrations/0001_initial.py
+++ b/fedireads/migrations/0001_initial.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Generated by Django 2.0.13 on 2020-01-25 21:32
+# Generated by Django 2.0.13 on 2020-01-25 23:55
 
 from django.conf import settings
 import django.contrib.auth.models
@@ -50,25 +50,36 @@ class Migration(migrations.Migration):
                 ('objects', django.contrib.auth.models.UserManager()),
             ],
         ),
+        migrations.CreateModel(
+            name='Author',
+            fields=[
+                ('id', models.AutoField(auto_created=True, primary_key=True, serialize=False, verbose_name='ID')),
+                ('openlibary_key', models.CharField(max_length=255)),
+                ('data', django.contrib.postgres.fields.jsonb.JSONField()),
+                ('added_date', models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=True)),
+                ('updated_date', models.DateTimeField(auto_now=True)),
+            ],
+        ),
         migrations.CreateModel(
             name='Book',
             fields=[
-                ('id', models.AutoField(primary_key=True, serialize=False)),
+                ('id', models.AutoField(auto_created=True, primary_key=True, serialize=False, verbose_name='ID')),
                 ('openlibary_key', models.CharField(max_length=255)),
                 ('data', django.contrib.postgres.fields.jsonb.JSONField()),
                 ('added_date', models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=True)),
                 ('updated_date', models.DateTimeField(auto_now=True)),
                 ('added_by', models.ForeignKey(blank=True, null=True, on_delete=django.db.models.deletion.PROTECT, to=settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL)),
+                ('authors', models.ManyToManyField(to='fedireads.Author')),
             ],
         ),
         migrations.CreateModel(
             name='Review',
             fields=[
+                ('id', models.AutoField(auto_created=True, primary_key=True, serialize=False, verbose_name='ID')),
                 ('name', models.CharField(max_length=255)),
                 ('content', django.contrib.postgres.fields.jsonb.JSONField(max_length=5000)),
                 ('created_date', models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=True)),
                 ('updated_date', models.DateTimeField(auto_now=True)),
-                ('id', models.AutoField(primary_key=True, serialize=False)),
                 ('star_rating', models.IntegerField(default=0)),
                 ('author', models.ForeignKey(on_delete=django.db.models.deletion.PROTECT, to=settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL)),
                 ('book', models.ForeignKey(on_delete=django.db.models.deletion.PROTECT, to='fedireads.Book')),
@@ -80,26 +91,44 @@ class Migration(migrations.Migration):
         migrations.CreateModel(
             name='Shelf',
             fields=[
-                ('id', models.AutoField(primary_key=True, serialize=False)),
+                ('id', models.AutoField(auto_created=True, primary_key=True, serialize=False, verbose_name='ID')),
                 ('name', models.CharField(max_length=100)),
                 ('editable', models.BooleanField(default=True)),
+                ('shelf_type', models.CharField(default='custom', max_length=100)),
                 ('created_date', models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=True)),
                 ('updated_date', models.DateTimeField(auto_now=True)),
-                ('books', models.ManyToManyField(to='fedireads.Book')),
-                ('user', models.ForeignKey(on_delete=django.db.models.deletion.PROTECT, to=settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL)),
+            ],
+        ),
+        migrations.CreateModel(
+            name='ShelfBook',
+            fields=[
+                ('id', models.AutoField(auto_created=True, primary_key=True, serialize=False, verbose_name='ID')),
+                ('added_date', models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=True)),
+                ('added_by', models.ForeignKey(blank=True, null=True, on_delete=django.db.models.deletion.PROTECT, to=settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL)),
+                ('book', models.ForeignKey(on_delete=django.db.models.deletion.PROTECT, to='fedireads.Book')),
+                ('shelf', models.ForeignKey(on_delete=django.db.models.deletion.PROTECT, to='fedireads.Shelf')),
             ],
         ),
         migrations.CreateModel(
             name='Work',
             fields=[
-                ('id', models.AutoField(primary_key=True, serialize=False)),
+                ('id', models.AutoField(auto_created=True, primary_key=True, serialize=False, verbose_name='ID')),
                 ('openlibary_key', models.CharField(max_length=255)),
                 ('data', django.contrib.postgres.fields.jsonb.JSONField()),
                 ('added_date', models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=True)),
                 ('updated_date', models.DateTimeField(auto_now=True)),
-                ('added_by', models.ForeignKey(blank=True, null=True, on_delete=django.db.models.deletion.PROTECT, to=settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL)),
             ],
         ),
+        migrations.AddField(
+            model_name='shelf',
+            name='books',
+            field=models.ManyToManyField(through='fedireads.ShelfBook', to='fedireads.Book'),
+        ),
+        migrations.AddField(
+            model_name='shelf',
+            name='user',
+            field=models.ForeignKey(on_delete=django.db.models.deletion.PROTECT, to=settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL),
+        ),
         migrations.AddField(
             model_name='book',
             name='works',
diff --git a/fedireads/models.py b/fedireads/models.py
index 76d9630e6..b32a0621e 100644
--- a/fedireads/models.py
+++ b/fedireads/models.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 ''' database schema for the whole dang thing '''
 from django.db import models
+from django.dispatch import receiver
 from django.contrib.auth.models import AbstractUser
 from django.contrib.postgres.fields import JSONField
 from Crypto.PublicKey import RSA
@@ -28,10 +29,27 @@ class User(AbstractUser):
 
         super().save(*args, **kwargs)
 
+@receiver(models.signals.post_save, sender=User)
+def execute_after_save(sender, instance, created, *args, **kwargs):
+    if not created:
+        return
+    shelves = [{
+        'name': 'To Read',
+        'type': 'to-read',
+    }, {
+        'name': 'Currently Reading',
+        'type': 'reading',
+    }, {
+        'name': 'Read',
+        'type': 'read',
+    }]
+
+    for shelf in shelves:
+        Shelf(name=shelf['name'], shelf_type=shelf['type'], user=instance, editable=False).save()
+
 
 class Message(models.Model):
     ''' any kind of user post, incl. reviews, replies, and status updates '''
-    id = models.AutoField(primary_key=True)
     author = models.ForeignKey('User', on_delete=models.PROTECT)
     name = models.CharField(max_length=255)
     content = JSONField(max_length=5000)
@@ -43,35 +61,52 @@ class Message(models.Model):
 
 
 class Review(Message):
-    id = models.AutoField(primary_key=True)
     book = models.ForeignKey('Book', on_delete=models.PROTECT)
     star_rating = models.IntegerField(default=0)
 
 
 class Shelf(models.Model):
-    id = models.AutoField(primary_key=True)
     name = models.CharField(max_length=100)
     user = models.ForeignKey('User', on_delete=models.PROTECT)
     editable = models.BooleanField(default=True)
-    books = models.ManyToManyField('Book', symmetrical=False)
+    shelf_type = models.CharField(default='custom', max_length=100)
+    books = models.ManyToManyField(
+        'Book',
+        symmetrical=False,
+        through='ShelfBook',
+        through_fields=('shelf', 'book')
+    )
     created_date = models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=True)
     updated_date = models.DateTimeField(auto_now=True)
 
 
+class ShelfBook(models.Model):
+    # many to many join table for books and shelves
+    book = models.ForeignKey('Book', on_delete=models.PROTECT)
+    shelf = models.ForeignKey('Shelf', on_delete=models.PROTECT)
+    added_by = models.ForeignKey('User', blank=True, null=True, on_delete=models.PROTECT)
+    added_date = models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=True)
+
+
 class Book(models.Model):
     ''' a non-canonical copy from open library '''
-    id = models.AutoField(primary_key=True)
     openlibary_key = models.CharField(max_length=255)
     data = JSONField()
     works = models.ManyToManyField('Work')
+    authors = models.ManyToManyField('Author')
     added_by = models.ForeignKey('User', on_delete=models.PROTECT, blank=True, null=True)
     added_date = models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=True)
     updated_date = models.DateTimeField(auto_now=True)
 
 class Work(models.Model):
-    id = models.AutoField(primary_key=True)
     openlibary_key = models.CharField(max_length=255)
     data = JSONField()
-    added_by = models.ForeignKey('User', on_delete=models.PROTECT, blank=True, null=True)
     added_date = models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=True)
     updated_date = models.DateTimeField(auto_now=True)
+
+class Author(models.Model):
+    openlibary_key = models.CharField(max_length=255)
+    data = JSONField()
+    added_date = models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=True)
+    updated_date = models.DateTimeField(auto_now=True)
+
diff --git a/fedireads/openlibrary.py b/fedireads/openlibrary.py
index 3953da2d4..66fc20bbf 100644
--- a/fedireads/openlibrary.py
+++ b/fedireads/openlibrary.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 from django.http import HttpResponse, HttpResponseRedirect, HttpResponseBadRequest
 from django.core.exceptions import ObjectDoesNotExist
 from django.core import serializers
-from fedireads.models import Book, Work
+from fedireads.models import Author, Book, Work
 import requests
 
 openlibrary_url = 'https://openlibrary.org'
@@ -22,15 +22,28 @@ def get_book(request, olkey):
     for work_id in data['works']:
         work_id = work_id['key']
         book.works.add(get_or_create_work(work_id))
+    for author_id in data['authors']:
+        author_id = author_id['key']
+        book.authors.add(get_or_create_author(author_id))
     return HttpResponse(serializers.serialize('json', [book]))
 
 def get_or_create_work(olkey):
     try:
         work = Work.objects.get(openlibary_key=olkey)
     except ObjectDoesNotExist:
-        response = requests.get(openlibrary_url + '/work/' + olkey +'.json')
+        response = requests.get(openlibrary_url + olkey + '.json')
         data = response.json()
         work = Work(openlibary_key=olkey, data=data)
         work.save()
     return work
 
+def get_or_create_author(olkey):
+    try:
+        author = Author.objects.get(openlibary_key=olkey)
+    except ObjectDoesNotExist:
+        response = requests.get(openlibrary_url + olkey + '.json')
+        data = response.json()
+        author = Author(openlibary_key=olkey, data=data)
+        author.save()
+    return author
+
diff --git a/fedireads/settings.py b/fedireads/settings.py
index 4ba4a2ba1..c08cb7c2d 100644
--- a/fedireads/settings.py
+++ b/fedireads/settings.py
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ ROOT_URLCONF = 'fedireads.urls'
 TEMPLATES = [
     {
         'BACKEND': 'django.template.backends.django.DjangoTemplates',
-        'DIRS': [],
+        'DIRS': ['templates'],
         'APP_DIRS': True,
         'OPTIONS': {
             'context_processors': [
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ TEMPLATES = [
     },
 ]
 
+
 WSGI_APPLICATION = 'fedireads.wsgi.application'
 
 
@@ -85,6 +86,7 @@ DATABASES = {
     }
 }
 
+LOGIN_URL = 'login/'
 AUTH_USER_MODEL = 'fedireads.User'
 
 # Password validation
diff --git a/fedireads/static/format.css b/fedireads/static/format.css
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7e0ea6c51
--- /dev/null
+++ b/fedireads/static/format.css
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+* {
+    margin: 0;
+    padding: 0;
+    line-height: 1.3em;
+    overflow: auto;
+}
+
+body > * > * {
+    margin: 0 auto;
+    padding: 1rem;
+    max-width: 75rem;
+    min-width: 30rem;
+}
+
+#top-bar {
+    height: 4rem;
+    border-bottom: 1px solid #aaa;
+    box-shadow: 0 0.5em 0.5em -0.6em #666;
+    margin-bottom: 1em;
+    overflow: auto;
+}
+
+#branding {
+    font-size: 2em;
+}
+
+header > div:first-child {
+    float: left;
+}
+
+header > div:last-child {
+    float: right;
+}
+
+#sidebar {
+    width: 30%;
+    float: left;
+}
+
+.user-pic {
+    width: 2em;
+    height: auto;
+    border-radius: 50%;
+    vertical-align: middle;
+}
+
+.book-preview {
+    overflow: auto;
+    margin-bottom: 1em;
+}
+
+.book-preview img {
+    float: left;
+    margin-right: 0.5em;
+}
+
+.update {
+    border: 1px solid #333;
+    border-radius: 0.2rem;
+    margin-bottom: 1em;
+}
+
+.update > * {
+    padding: 1em;
+}
+
+.interact {
+    background-color: #eee;
+}
diff --git a/fedireads/static/images/med.jpg b/fedireads/static/images/med.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c275cd1c8
Binary files /dev/null and b/fedireads/static/images/med.jpg differ
diff --git a/fedireads/static/images/profile.jpg b/fedireads/static/images/profile.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f150ceabe
Binary files /dev/null and b/fedireads/static/images/profile.jpg differ
diff --git a/fedireads/static/images/small.jpg b/fedireads/static/images/small.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..158163b61
Binary files /dev/null and b/fedireads/static/images/small.jpg differ
diff --git a/fedireads/templates/feed.html b/fedireads/templates/feed.html
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1d0c7f458
--- /dev/null
+++ b/fedireads/templates/feed.html
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+{% extends 'layout.html' %}
+{% block content %}
+<div id="sidebar">
+    {% for shelf in shelves %}
+    <h1>{{ shelf.name }}</h1>
+    {% for book in  shelf.books.all %}
+    <div class="book-preview">
+        <img class="cover" src="static/images/small.jpg">
+        <p class="title">{{ book.data.title }}</p>
+        <p>by <a href="" class="author">{{ book.authors.first.data.name }}</a></p>
+        {% if shelf.type == 'reading' %}
+        <button>Done reading</button>
+        {% endif %}
+    </div>
+    {% endfor %}
+    {% endfor %}
+</div>
+
+<div id="main">
+    <div class="update">
+        <div class="user-preview">
+            <img class="user-pic" src="static/images/profile.jpg">
+            <span><a href="" class="user">Mouse</a> is currently reading</span>
+        </div>
+        <div class="book-preview">
+            <img class="cover" src="static/images/med.jpg">
+            <p class="title">Moby Dick</p>
+            <p>by <a href="" class="author">Herman Melville</a></p>
+            <p>"Command the murderous chalices! Drink ye harpooners! Drink and swear, ye men that man the deathful whaleboat's bow -- Death to Moby Dick!" So Captain Ahab binds his crew to fulfil his obsession -- the destruction of the great white whale. Under his lordly but maniacal command the Pequod's commercial mission is perverted to one of vengeance...</p>
+        </div>
+        <div class="interact">
+            <span>⭐️ Like</span>
+            <span>💬 <input type="text"></input></span>
+        </div>
+    </div>
+    <div class="update">
+        <img class="user-pic" src="static/images/profile.jpg">
+        <span><a href="" class="user">Mouse</a> is currently reading</span>
+        <div class="book-preview">
+            <img class="cover" src="static/images/med.jpg">
+            <p class="title">Moby Dick</p>
+            <p>by <a href="" class="author">Herman Melville</a></p>
+            <p>"Command the murderous chalices! Drink ye harpooners! Drink and swear, ye men that man the deathful whaleboat's bow -- Death to Moby Dick!" So Captain Ahab binds his crew to fulfil his obsession -- the destruction of the great white whale. Under his lordly but maniacal command the Pequod's commercial mission is perverted to one of vengeance...</p>
+        </div>
+        <div class="interact">
+            <span>⭐️ Like</span>
+            <span>💬 <input type="text"></input></span>
+        </div>
+    </div>
+</div>
+{% endblock %}
diff --git a/fedireads/templates/layout.html b/fedireads/templates/layout.html
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c1329102a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/fedireads/templates/layout.html
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+<!DOCTYPE html>
+<html lang="en">
+<head>
+    <title>FediReads</title>
+    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
+    <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="/static/format.css">
+
+    <link rel="shortcut icon" type="image/x-icon" href="/static/images/favicon.ico">
+
+    <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary">
+    <meta name="twitter:title" content="FediReads">
+    <meta name="og:title" content="FediReads">
+    <meta name="twitter:description" content="Federated Social Reading">
+    <meta name="og:description" content="Federated Social Reading">
+    <meta name="twitter:creator" content="@tripofmice">
+    <meta name="twitter:site" content="@tripofmice">
+
+</head>
+
+<body>
+
+<div id="top-bar">
+    <header>
+        <div id="branding">📚FediReads</div>
+        <div>
+            <div id="account">
+                {% if user.is_authenticated %}
+                <form name="logout" action="/logout/" method="post">
+                    Welcome, {{ user.username }}
+                    <input type="submit" value="Log out"></input>
+                </form>
+                {% else %}
+                <form name="login" action="/login/" method="post">
+                    <input type="text" name="username"></input>
+                    <input type="password" name="password"></input>
+                    <input type="submit" value="Log in"></input>
+                </form>
+                {% endif %}
+            </div>
+            <div id="search">
+                <form action="search">
+                    <input type="text" name="q"></input>
+                    <input type="submit" value="🔍"></input>
+                </form>
+            </div>
+        </div>
+    </header>
+</div>
+
+<div id="content">
+    <div>
+        {% block content %}
+        {% endblock %}
+    </div>
+
+</div>
+
+</body>
+</html>
+
diff --git a/fedireads/templates/login.html b/fedireads/templates/login.html
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fe6a319d9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/fedireads/templates/login.html
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{% extends 'layout.html' %}
+{% block content %}
+    <form name="login" method="post">
+        <input type="text" name="username"></input>
+        <input type="password" name="password"></input>
+        <input type="submit"></input>
+    </form>
+{% endblock %}
diff --git a/fedireads/urls.py b/fedireads/urls.py
index e4a94ebda..9c9644823 100644
--- a/fedireads/urls.py
+++ b/fedireads/urls.py
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ from fedireads import activitystream, openlibrary, views
 
 urlpatterns = [
     path('admin/', admin.site.urls),
+    path('', views.home),
+    path('login/', views.user_login),
+    path('logout/', views.user_logout),
     path('api/book/<str:olkey>', openlibrary.get_book),
     path('webfinger/', activitystream.webfinger),
 ]
diff --git a/fedireads/views.py b/fedireads/views.py
index 1fbaa8073..7b2e360c2 100644
--- a/fedireads/views.py
+++ b/fedireads/views.py
@@ -1,11 +1,39 @@
+''' application views/pages '''
 from django.contrib.auth.decorators import login_required
+from django.contrib.auth import authenticate, login, logout
+from django.shortcuts import redirect
+from django.template.response import TemplateResponse
+from django.views.decorators.csrf import csrf_exempt
+from fedireads.models import Shelf
 
 @login_required
-def account_page(request):
-    return 'hi'
+def home(request):
+    ''' user feed '''
+    shelves = Shelf.objects.filter(user=request.user.id)
+    data = {
+        'user': request.user,
+        'shelves': shelves,
+    }
+    return TemplateResponse(request, 'feed.html', data)
 
-def webfinger(request):
-    return 'hello'
+@csrf_exempt
+def user_login(request):
+    ''' authentication '''
+    # send user to the login page
+    if request.method == 'GET':
+        return TemplateResponse(request, 'login.html')
 
-def api(request):
-    return 'hey'
+    # authenticate user
+    username = request.POST['username']
+    password = request.POST['password']
+    user = authenticate(request, username=username, password=password)
+    if user is not None:
+        login(request, user)
+        return redirect(request.GET.get('next', '/'))
+    return TemplateResponse(request, 'login.html')
+
+@csrf_exempt
+@login_required
+def user_logout(request):
+    logout(request)
+    return redirect('/')