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I was delighted to have you publish a review of my book, "San Miguel Island" (Paperbacks, May 3), and your coverage of the contents was quite good. However, when reviewer Charles Solomon described it as a "depressing guide for anyone planning to visit the island" I felt sure he/she had not really finished the book. Chapters 9 and 10 are all good news : complete regeneration of the flora and all six species of the pinnipeds (seals etc.) returned to breed on the island. The chapter on excursions out there makes it so tempting and so beautiful we only fear too many visitors may read the book and go straight out there.

Born of wheat root and summer rusk, born of rain, sheened gold as hair swirled in the soft comb you rake and truss, you delight in a mirror or a photograph or the touch of any son. When you bale bread one by one with prayer hands, the heart of hair on every child's arm lingers. You blush at a wedding dance and love counting fingers when I play the boy and promise to die young. All day in the shadow wood of the green martyr, you kneel, your babushka slung high across your shoulders.

Regarding Victor Valle's article about the re-rating of Lisa Bonet's film "Angel Heart" from X to R ("Bonet's 'Angel' Heartache," Feb. 26): Let me see if I have this right. Miss Goodie Two Shoes from the World's Most Perfect TV Sitcom Family makes a steamy quasi-porno flick with a hack co-star and it's the media's fault that a lot of people have now heard about her little film. This is awful. Pretty soon the media will destroy the whole country. HOWARD DECKER North Hollywood

The following is a typical example of the American scene. In one city, well-paid "We care not what happeneth to thee, Jack, because verily we are all right" railroad workers, led by trade union leaders, are parading with picket signs in support of a strike which could severely damage the nation's ailing economy! At the same time in another city, a special parade is being held to welcome home war heroes who have been risking their lives for the nation--and for the striking workers!

Regarding "Wayne and Garth vs. Bill and Ted: The Consensus From the Metal Section" (Film Clips, March 22): As founder of Bill & Ted's Outstanding Past and Future Appreciation Society, I guess it should come as no surprise that Wayne and Garth were the overwhelming winners in the race against Bill and Ted, considering that heavy-metal voters were relating the events in "Wayne's World" to their own lives. I suspect that most teen-agers played street hockey and banged their heads to "Bohemian Rhapsody" as opposed to traveling through time and the afterlife.

Citrus, 6703 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles. (213) 857-0034. Style: California-French by L.A.'s premiere French pastry chef. Setting: Patio dining and looking-glass kitchen. Recommended: Mille feuille with creme brulee, $6.50. City Restaurant, 180 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles. (213) 938-2155. Style: Kicky California for foodies. Setting: Urban barn. Recommended: City chocolate, $6. Fennel, 1535 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica. (213)

Ollie Oops! CLAYTON W. HOOKER Huntington Beach

Apropos of "Merde: The Real French You Were Never Taught at School," reviewed by Jack Miles (The Book Review, March 23), you might like to know that "Harrap's English-French/French-English Slang Dictionary" is about 10 times as long as "Merde" for only $19.95. It includes various items you didn't mention, such as merder (to come to nothing, to screw up), merdique (very difficult, not up to the mark), merdouille (clumsiness, as well as s---), and merdouiller (to flounder, to get into a bloody mess)