September is book-party season in New York City. But starving authors who used to move from shindig to shindig to get fed are finding the pickings a bit slim. Publishers have wearied of the big book launch, and now regard it as an unnecessary expense. Before this peculiar cultural event becomes obsolete, Notebook brings you a sociological study:
PARTY FOR: John McCain's Faith of My Fathers
WHERE: The Bloomberg News computer-training room
MOST FAMOUS GUEST: Henry Kissinger
GOSSIP WRITER: Cindy Adams
HOT TOPIC: The National Committee on U.S.-China relations dinner
TABOO TOPIC: Other candidates
SPREAD: Classy: champagne and seafood hors...
