Reading the Belgariad Again

I've just started reading the Belgariad again - it's been about 6 years. 
Reading it has reminded me why I used to like DE's writing so much. It 
really is a good and enjoyable series. It also highlights how badly his 
writing has degraded. Some phrases have been rehashed to the point of
death 
in his later books still work well in the Belgariad (mainly 'and
everything 
was all right again').

A new observation that never really struck home is how mean and
insensitive 
Polgara is to Garion when everyone starts referring to her and Belgarath
by 
their real names. She never even offers the smallest of explanations.

If it's still good reading by CoW, I'll start the 'if they made a movie,
who 
would play who' thread, just of old times' sake.

Carl