March 11, 1990

LEAD: ''Russians love to read.'' Try to find a book or an article on the Soviet Union that does not contain these words. The sentiment is usually supported by circulation figures to prove that Soviet readers devour books without being prodded by expensive ad campaigns. But who needs statistics? From Minsk to Yakutsk, no living room is complete without a massive bookcase bursting with ''Complete Works.

LEAD: Don King, the boxing promoter, has been hit with a violation citation by the Landmarks Preservation Commission because he changed the facade of a town house he owns at 32 East 69th Street without obtaining a permit as required by law. The five-story building, which is used as the headquarters of Don King Productions, is within the boundaries of the East Side Historic

LEAD: Just when those wonderful denizens of Wall Street, the arbs, thought things couldn't get worse, they did.

LEAD: ''LOVE AFFAIR'' isn't strong enough; the automobile is part of the American identity. And more and more it looks like the Mr. Hyde part.

LEAD: President Bush and many officials in his Administration say they are deeply disappointed by the failure of the Chinese Government to relax its repressive rule in response to numerous conciliatory gestures by Mr. Bush.