diff --git a/util/__init__.py b/util/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/util/reader.py b/util/reader.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..740de5f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/util/reader.py
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+from pathlib import Path
+
+def data_as_string(data_file: Path) -> str:
+    with open(data_file) as file:
+        return file.read().strip()
+
+
+def data_as_list(data_file: Path) -> list:
+    return [line for line in data_as_string(data_file).strip()]
+
+
+def data_as_int_list(data_file: Path) -> list:
+    return [int(line) for line in data_as_string(data_file).strip()]