readfile.py

def read_file(file_name):
    """reads a file in to memory,
    first checking the user has access rights to the file"""
    try:
        fp = open(file_name, 'r')
    except IOError as e:
        if e.errno == errno.EACCES:
            return False
        raise
    else:
        with fp:
            return fp.read()