BOOKS AT A GLANCE

Reviews in Brief * As Thousands Cheer: The Life of Irving Berlin Laurence Bergreen (Viking, $24.95) A colorful history of our greatest popular art-the music that emerged out of the ethnic and social commotion of 20th-century America-as well as a vivid biography of its foremost exponent. A * The Barnum Museum Steven Millhauser (Poseidon, $18.95) Brilliantly imaginative stories from the author of the novel Edwin Mullhouse. A-

* Berthe Morisot Anne Higonnet (Harper & Row, $25) A memorable portrait of an admirable woman, as elegantly simple as a Manet, or a Morisot. A

* The Burden of Proof Scott Turow (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, $22.95) Although The Burden of Proof lacks the surefire thriller devices that helped make Presumed Innocent such a commanding piece of storytelling, readers who persevere will be rewarded. B

* Children of the Dragon: The Story of Tiananmen Square (Collier, $19.95) A & handsome collection of photographs, speeches, and newspaper accounts documenting China's ill-fated democracy movement. B+

* Coyote Waits Tony Hillerman (Harper & Row, $19.95) The 11th tale in Hillerman's series about the Navajo Tribal Police is sturdy work from an incorruptible craftsman. A-

* The Dark Romance of Dian Fossey Harold T.P. Hayes (Simon & Schuster, $21.95) An engrossing study of the life and murder of Dian Fossey, the courageous but troubled champion of Rwanda's mountain gorillas. A-

* Disturbing the Peace Vaclav Havel; translated by Paul Wilson (Knopf, $19.95) Readers interested in learning more about this most reluutant of political heroes will nd no better place to begin. A-

* An Inconvenient Woman Dominick Dunne (Crown, $19.95) Dunne's most recent chronicle of well-heeled heels. B

* The Innocent Ian McEwan (Doubleday, $18.95) Far more than an intelligent thriller, The Innocent is also a haunting black comedy charged with psychological complexity, sex, and suspense. A

* Rolling Stone Magazine: The Uncensored History Robert Draper (Doubleday, $19.95) A brisk and passionate account of the magazine's tumultuous 23 years. B

* Saratoga Hexameter Stephen Dobyns (Viking, $16.95) A charming small-town mystery-comedy. B+

* Slim: Memories of a Rich and Imperfect Life Slim Keith with Annette Tapert (Simon & Schuster, $22.95) An irresistible combination of salty wit, down- to-earth honesty, and great photographs. B+

* Stardust Robert Parker (Putnam, $18.95) A new episode for Spenser, mysterydom's most self-satisfied shamus. B-

* Too Good to Be True: The Outlandish Story of Wedtech James Traub (Doubleday, $21.95) As Traub deftly shows us, this is a story not about venality but about human frailty. A

At a Glance * Black in Selma: The Uncommon Life of J.L. Chestnut Jr. J.L. Chestnut Jr. and Julia Cass (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, $22.95) The past 60 years in Selma, Ala., as seen through the eyes of a remarkable lawyer and civil rights activist.

* Bones and Silence Reginald Hill (Delacorte, $17.95) The 10th Superintendent Dalziel/Inspector Pascoe mystery.

* The English Town: A History of Urban Life Mark Girouard (Yale University Press, $39.95) Social and architectural history by the author of Life in the English Country House.

$ * Fade Out Peter Bart (Morrow, $19.95) The story of a movie company's destruction at the hands of corporate pirates.

* Lantern Slides Edna O'Brien (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, $18.95) Stories by the author of Girls in Their Married Bliss.

* Moving Through Here Don McNeill (Citadel Underground, paperback, $9.95) Enthusiastic and moving reporting from the vintage year of love, 1967-1968.

* Red-Dirt Marijuana Terry Southern (Citadel Underground, paperback, $9.95) The author of Candy and The Magic Christian, Terry Southern's journalism often makes the work of Hunter Thompson look tame.

* Sleeping in Flame Jonathan Carroll (Vintage, paperback, $8.95) Urbane, cosmopolitan, utterly up-to-the-minute fiction.

* Splash! A History of Swimwear Richard Martin and Harold Koda (Rizzoli, paperback, $29.95) From worsted wool bathing costumes to string bikinis. Bodies to match.