The answer would be Scholarly
They are the author's memories and impressions with the man he based Life of Pi off of. If you read the introduction(which is all in italics) he talks about how he came to write the book, and one thing the author mentions is the first meeting of real-life Piscine. So while the story is going on, the author adds in his thoughts on the main character.
Answer:
Possible, yes.
A deep divide could cause a downturn in relations between the two parties involved. Yet, it can still be patched. Through diplomacy or other means, a deep divide can be fixed.
The line "Happy thoughts come to those with baked goods and fat cats." means that the reasons behind having happy thoughts include baked goods and fat cats. Maybe the person who said this loves cats and cookies, cakes, and pastries. <span />
