What is the theme in Nobody's Fool by Richard Russo?

Survival is the main theme of this story. The story told in Nobody's Fool is the story of survival. The setting of the novel is a small town in the Adirondacks in upstate New York. The town is waiting for an economic boom that will provide jobs and money for the area. Until then, the people, like Sully and Rub, must survive. Some people in the town have their own businesses that provide them with a living. Carl owns a construction company, Harold owns the automotive store and there are three restaurants and the donut shop. The town is not prosperous, but people survive.