from typing import List


def read_orgmode_file(filename: str) -> List[str]:
    """
    Reads in an org-mode file and returns a list of strings, each containing a note.
    """
    notes = []  # type: List[str]
    lines = []  # type: List[str]
    try:
        with open(filename, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as inputf:
            lines = [line for line in inputf.readlines()]
    except EnvironmentError as err:
        print('Problem occured while reading {}:'.format(filename), err)
    # Now convert the lines into notes
    current_line = ''
    for line in lines:
        # Org-mode notes start with "*"
        if current_line and line.startswith('*'):
            notes.append(current_line)
            current_line = line
        else:
            current_line += line
    return notes