Party planning made difficult

Here's the deal: I'm in a book club and it's my turn to host in July. It's still more than a month away, but I've been thinking about it for weeks... I've been going back and forth about what book to pick, whether I should send real invitations or use evite (as my fellow book clubbers have been), what to serve for dinner, to favor or not to favor, etc...? The only thing I knew from the start is that I wanted to have it in my home. Some people have opted to meet at a restaurant, but there is something soothing about getting together with girlfriends in a homey atmosphere.

I finally decided on a book: "The Third Life of Grange Copeland," Alice Walker's debut novel. The book is set in the south, my favorite region of the States. So I want a menu that reflects southern traditions, the same good stuff my grandmother from Huntsville, Ala., made when I was growing up. Here is the most recent draft of my menu:

Appetizer
Crudités
Fried Green Tomatoes with Crab Remoulade

Main Course
Oven Fried Chicken
Steamed Green Beans

Corn on the Cob with Chile Butter

Cheese Biscuits or run-o-the-mill Dinner Rolls

Dessert
Peach Cobbler or Red Velvet Cupcakes
Beverages
Sweet Tea or Lemonade
San Pellegrino

So what do ya'll think? Any other ideas for the main course, dessert or drinks? There are a number of teetotalers (I'm not one of 'em!) in the group, so I was leaning toward skipping the alcohol. Maybe a cold green bean salad instead? It will be July... And if I go with the cupcakes, I plan to stack them in a cupcake tree. How cute is that? If I serve peach cobbler, I will put it in a trifle bowl so the tender crust and juicy peaches are visible.

So, come on... Help me further complicate what should be a simple task.