Introducing Michael Caine, Writer

The Scene: Dual purpose. The book-signing party on Thursday night for Michael Caine, actor, whose first tome is his autobiography, “What’s It All About?,” was also the official opening of the Rizzoli Bookstore in Beverly Hills. Jackie Collins and L.A. Style magazine co-hosted.

Who Was There: Shakira (Mrs. Michael) Caine, Joanna Poitier, Diane Lander-Simon, Caine’s movie agent Fred Spector, producer Barry Krost, restaurateur Jimmy Murphy and Rizzoli top brass Gianni D’Angelo, chairman of the Milan, Italy-based communication company, and Gianfranco Monacelli, president of Rizzoli U.S.

Ambience: The store, which has been open less than a month, has a New York feel and, with its dark wood paneling, looks as if it’s been here for 75 years. It has already been the site of four book-signing parties and will hold five more in the next week or so, introducing a level of social book chat previously unheard in this city and prompting inevitable comparisons to a certain East Coast publishing party capital.

Quoted: “This is great. This is like New York. It’s like a New York crowd,” said Allen Alexander, a Beverly Hills city councilman.

Literacy Level: “People like to think no one reads here. It’s outrageous. L.A.’s the second biggest book market outside New York,” said L.A. Style editor-in-chief Annie Gilbar.

Another View of Literacy: “I think there are a lot of hidden, closet book readers in L.A. who want to get away from the shallowness of life,” said realtor Mike Silverman.

Last Word on Literacy: “I’ve got a copy in my hand as a stage prop,” said one man, holding Caine’s volume and a glass of Pinot Grigio.

Bookish: Caine, whose book is 521 pages, confided that one thing he learned about writing is that books shouldn’t be too heavy. That’s heavy as in kilograms or pounds. “My editor cut six ounces,” he said.

Dress Code: Black leather motorcycle jackets--Not! Think grown-up. Men wore navy blazers, dark suits and neckties, while women also wore suits, predominantly in black, gray and navy.