The Catcher in the Rye (Pg 1-39)

Summary
Holden Caufield is the narrator and starts off by telling a short autobiography, though he says he isn't going to tell his "whole goddamn autobiography or anything".  He is giving a description of his life, mentioning his brother D.B. who is a successful writer.  He really starts with the day he left Pencey Prep. He did not meet the requirements of the school and is expelled.  He remembers watching the football game but because he has no interest in it, he goes to Mr. Spencer, his history teacher.
At Mr.Spencer's house, Holden is consulted by Spencer about his situation in life. Holden does not know what he wants to do with his life and is uninterested in school and this reflects on his reports about Egyptians which he wrote a very brief description of and adds a note saying he simply didn't not care and it was alright for Mr.Spencer to flunk him. This will be Holden's fourth school he is transferring from, and feels like he will disappoint his parents.
Holden calls himself a liar after lying to Mr.Spencer to leave the lecture.  He goes back to his dorm and starts reading Out of Africa and then starts talking about his classmate Ackley who he finds irritating. Stradlater comes in shortly and and Ackley hates him, but Holden does not have much of a problem with him other than him appearing to be clean but in fact, is unhygienic. Holden is irritated when Stradlater asks him to write him a paper in order for him to go on a date and realizes the irony that even though he is leaving, he's still doing work for others.
On Saturday, Holden spends his night with Mal Brossard to see a movie.  He invites Ackley along knowing he doesn't have anything to do. When they come back, Holden finishes writing the essay for Stradlater and mentions the death of his brother Allie four years ago.  That night he slept in his garage and punched out all the windows.

Quote
"Life is a game, boy. Life is a game that one plays according to its rules." (Salinger 8)

Reaction
I felt this quote foreshadows Holden's growth throughout the book because right now he's kind of like a loser with no idea what to do with his life.  He's questioning the people around him, and he sounds like he feels out of place in his world.  I think soon he will understand that "life is a game that one plays according to its rules" is saying that he will have to be like everyone else to live his life happily, even if he questions conforming.