from typing import List
import codecs


def read_data(file_path: str, drop_first: bool = False) -> List[str]:
    """
    Function to read textual data with simple newline formatting

    Args:
        file_path (str): path to file
        drop_first (bool): drop first row given it is a header

    Returns:
        collection (List[str]): parsed textual data with
        newline symbols removed
    """
    with codecs.open(file_path, "r", encoding="utf-8") as f:
        collection = []
        for line in f:
            if drop_first:
                drop_first = False
                continue
            split_line = line.strip()
            collection.append(split_line)
    return collection