def read_file(file_name, verbose=False):
    """Takes a file name and returns the lines from the file as a list. Optional verbosity param
    :param file_name: path to file to be read
    :param verbose: run with extra logging
    :returns lines: list strings representing lines in the file
    """
    if verbose:
        print('Reading file: <' + file_name + '>')

    lines = None
    with open(file_name, 'r+') as infile:
        lines = infile.readlines()

    if verbose:
        print('Lines read: <' + str(len(lines)) + '>')

    return lines