Being Swallowed by Books

The thing I have struggled with most throughout my short life is probably being "swallowed" by pleasure reading.  I have a collection of books that I got involved in too deeply, and so I thought it was bad because it was taking the place of God, and therefore, I put them away unfinished.  Some of you wont know what the heck I'm talking about, and some of you will completely understand.  If you are of the latter, I have something to share with you:
Galatians 5:16 - "I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh."  If you're right with God then you wont be committing sin to read a book and get very far into it.
Romans 14:14 - "I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean."  If you think that it's wrong to read that book, it's wrong.  There's a little trick I do sometimes.  I would say "Oh, I think it's fine to read this book," all the while really believing that it really was wrong.
1 Corinthians 6:12 - "All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful.  All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any."  When you can't put the book down, you are addicted to it and brought under it's power, and you need to put it down.  I'm homeschooled, so I can't start books until Friday evening, because otherwise I read it instead of doing school.  Even if I don't read it, I think about it.  I am put under it's power.
One more thing: if you're unsure, don't flirt with the line!  God wants you to have pleasure, but he does not want that to interrupt your walk with Him or damage you in any way.  God wants your best, and flirting with the line is not honoring Him and not healthy for you.
Note: A thanks to my pastor for direction with verses and ideas in his sermon today.

Good Christian Books

Okay, so I have a story idea.  There's a boy named Howie Munching who has a great Christian life: great family, great friends, great home, great church.  He's really popular, and there are never any bullies in his school; almost every day he brings someone to Christ.  Howie grows up to and becomes a successful zoo keeper and rides in a limousine.  He gets married to a great Christian trophy wife and has three wonderful Christian kids who grow up to live a life just like their father.  Now tell me honestly, what do you think?  It stinks, doesn't it!  Howie Munching is boring!  There is no way to relate to him.  Is this what we mean when we say that we ought to dream of bright and beautiful things?  Absolutely not.  We want to read good books that fill our minds with good things.  (A plus to that is that if you're a writer and you read good books, you'll write good books).  Let's face it: there's a lot of Christian garbage out there.  There's also a lot of books that aren't "Christian" per se, but that definitely fill your mind with good a noble things.  This week, take a look at the books you are reading and/or writing.  Are they good for you, even if they're not "Christian"?  Are they bad for you even if they are?  I can't read modern Christian romances, though I love a good Austen.  And please keep in mind that I haven't learned all the answers, and I'm growing in this as well.