const char **file_read(char *filename) {

    FILE *file = fopen ( filename, "r" );
    char line [ MAX_LINES ]; /* or other suitable maximum line size */
    const char **new_line = malloc(sizeof(char *) * MAX_LINES);
    if ( file != NULL ) {
        int i = 0;
        while ( fgets ( line, sizeof line, file ) != NULL ) /* read a line */
        {
            new_line[i] = strdup(line);
            i++;
        }
    fclose ( file );
    }
    else
    {
        perror ( filename ); /* why didn't the file open? */
    }
    return (const char**) *new_line;
}